As other people have mentioned, part of the reason for the widespread diabetes (and cholesterol) epidemic, is because the doctors , guided by the pharmaceutical industry, have changed the parameters of what constitutes these illnesses, thus requiring more people to be prescribed medications for something that was not considered bad levels previously. In my opinion, and from what I have read, one of the other reasons is the change in people’s diets since around the 1950’s-60’s. this is when they started telling us that butter was bad, lard was bad, and put vegetable oils on the market instead. All vegetable oils are processed at high heat and then bleached out to remove bad smell and appearance from the processing, and we got them in the form of margarine, shortening, and “pure” vegetable oil for cooking and salads. Vegetable and seeds oils like cottonseed, rapeseed (canola), and even corn oil are hard to extract, so they must be highly processed, making them unhealthy. Another reason, along with the removal of natural fat sources from our diet, which we were told was bad, we started the invasion of “low-fat foods”, which were then made with added sugars because they didn’t taste good when made without any fat. We have been told that we should eat a low fat diet, even though actual medical results do not show that it is the fat that causes heart disease, according to many doctors; but we Americans are eating more sugar and sugar products than ever before, which has caused the surge in diabetes and other sugar-related diseases. I have vacillated back and forth, as I have read books from proponents of both sides, and also from vegans, who eat no animal products at all. I am still looking for more truth, but so far, the best I have found is to eat plenty of fresh foods, vegetables and fruits, and do not eat processed foods of any kind. I am back on low-carb again, with intermittent fasting for autophagy, and working on re-setting my insulin resistance to lose the weight I regained over the last year.
Don't ever over look the importance of your swimming in your health equation. Weight loss without exercise can be dangerous especially with us females. My early morning exercise is what keeps me alive and on the right track. I think that us post menopausal girls need more exercise than medical pros tell us.
Part of it is certainly marketing. Diabetes diagnostic ranges have been lowered in part to sell more drugs, but also the incidence of diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, have increased in recent years and the consequences of the diseases have become better known. I have thought for years that the "low fat diet" concept has been largely responsible for a good deal of this without having a measurable impact on cardiac deaths.
Ok,but I never said it wasn't there @ any time period .. Only that is was rare in those time periods.
Excellent post, Yvonne. Drs. rarely treat the cause of the disease. Instead they prescribe meds which supposedly treat SYMPTOMS. It's difficult for a layman to get a true handle on what precisely is causing the disease. Every time I read more about diabetes and insulin resistance I find more and more foods which are the MAIN problems.
Could be. That was just the only diabetes related thing I can remember from back then. It was just an anecdotal comment.
Well, let's face it. Many (perhaps most) people would prefer to continue their unhealthy ways and pop a pill to "fix" the problem. My brother was a prime example; he was diabetic but believed he could continue to eat pasta and bread as long as he took his Metformin. Human nature is to take the easy way out.
I was gonna stay out of this conversation, but I have to comment on what Ken said. I've chronicled my broken bladder issues here ad nauseam, including my almost screaming at doctors to order even the most basic of tests...and I had to find out on my own what tests I think I need. I've been through 3 practices and am on my 7th urologist, who is the first one who is actually treating the patient. At every step, every nightmare, every encounter, my thoughts always go to those who blindly trust to their own detriment, and to those whose skill set does not include the attributes Ken laid out. Even with the strongest of skill sets, it sucks to do battle when one is physically and mentally drained from being ill. I'm making compromises right now because I am exhausted from pushing back all the time on all fronts (perhaps I'll regroup later.) The cost/benefit of fighting the myriad components of the system has diminished for me, and it sucks that the most informed, motivated and capable among us have a hard time finding allies within the system. God help those who don't have these skills or an appetite for conflict. I wish I could help them.
this is a rant actually. We moved to Kansas 6 mos ago. A few months ago I had us set up with doctors at our local hospital. clinic . This is mainly to get our prescriptions refilled. Three weeks ago Marks doctor had emergency appendicitis operation. Today I find out he has since retired- and that my new doctor is leaving in August. Just friggin great. There are only 2 doctors now at the clinic and tow nurse practitioners.. because one of those left last month. Plus once again an employee has informed me not to get Humma insurance. This town hates that insurance company. Even the drugstore in town will not fill rx from them. The nearest town of size is 55 miles away... Sigh-- very frustrating.
We have had good luck with United Healthcare , too, @Hedi Mitchell . They have about the same benefits as Humana does, except for the Go365 program. If you do not want Humana where you live, then you might try UHC instead. I still suggest finding an independent agent that will go over the benefits of all the plans in your area, and help you pick the one that best meets your needs. It does not cost anything, and they will have all of the new information next month (July) for this fall, but can’t start helping people until the open enrollment happens .