What I'm about to say about type II diabetes will offend some people. Heck, I'm sure others will be downright mad at me. Believe me I mean no disrespect to anyone. I speak these words because they need to be said – because so few others want you to hear them. What I am about to say was born out of two recent incidents that I want to share with you about type II diabetes.
Recently, a friend told me an interesting story that happened to him and his brother. His brother recently had an accident that required him to see a doctor. His brother – let’s call him “Mr X” – is a type II diabetic.
While at the doctor’s office, one of the nursing staff came over and said “Mr X did you know that as a diabetic that you can get 2 pairs of sneakers each year for free”.
My buddy, who was sitting next to his brother jokingly said “ wow it really pays to be a diabetic!”. My buddy told me that the nurse didn’t like that comment.
I know the nurse was trying to help, but it got me to thinking about how the system is set up to keep a person on the type II diabetes merry-go-round.
The second story I witnessed personally a few weeks ago. I was at a doctor’s office when a very overweight women, walked into the waiting room with her physician. Her daughter, who was sitting next to me said,
“Doc, get on her; her diabetes is acting up again!”
Acting up? It was like she was speaking about diabetes as if it were acne!
A few minutes later the woman walked out of the doctor’s office with 2 different types of glucose monitors – 2 different types! She didn’t pay for those glucose monitors – Medicare did!
Now, I think it’s good that Medicare will pay for a lot of equipment that diabetics need like:
- Glucose testing monitors
- Lancets
- Glucose test strips
Medicare will even pay for one of those motorized scooters that advertised all over daytime TV commercials.
But, will Medicare pay for that woman to get a gym membership?
I'm asking this question in all seriousness. I am not sure what the answer to this question is.
Will Medicare pay for a gym membership for a diabetic?
All that other stuff that Medicare does help pay for only treats the symptoms of type II diabetes. It does not treat type II diabetes itself.
By making it easier for people to exercise, a gym membership would help CURE type II diabetes in the vast majority of people reading these words.
I'm not trying to play the conspiracy card. I don’t think there is a vast right – or left –wing conspiracy to keep people under the thumb of type II diabetes.
But, there is a – and I'm just going to say it – a “Diabetes Industrial Complex”.
This complex is made up of various industries including the pharmaceutical industry and the medical technology industry. It’s not that they want to keep you a type II diabetic. Rather, they just want to make money.
This is capitalism we are talking about!
I'm not trying to bash capitalism – heck I'm a capitalist! – but I have a BIG problem when making money is put ahead of YOUR HEALTH.
I do not hold to that type of capitalism.
If you think I'm wrong, then ask yourself this question.
Why do glucose monitors come in different colors?
It’s just a glucose monitor right? Why would the color matter? The color serves no function except that, in the words of my friend Tracy Broomall, it’s stylish!
My God, when did type II diabetes become stylish?
Medicare pays for all sorts of stuff to help you treat diabetes but does it pay for services to help you CURE your type II diabetes?
By taking your eye off of the real problem – curing your type II diabetes – they have kept you in the system. The more people in the diabetes system, the more money the various members of this diabetes matrix can make.
Comedian Chris Rock said it best: “the money is in the medicine”. There is no money to be made in the cure of diabetes.
If you cure your type II diabetes you don’t need the:
- Insulin
- Syringes
- Glucose monitors
- Motorized scooters
- Chairs that help you stand up
- Or anything else that Medicare pays for
YOU ARE FREE!!
Yes, there is a genetic contribution to type II diabetes. I know that. But in most cases, type II diabetes is not genetic – it’s environmental. People did it to themselves by accident – by eating too many calories and not moving enough.
If you want to know how it got this way read can type II diabetes be cured
I'm frustrated because I believe most people with type II diabetes do not take this DISEASE seriously. If they did, type II diabetes would not be rampant in America like it is.
Type II diabetes – and the complications of type II diabetes – are a National Security Issue.
This country cannot survive if the majority of it’s population are too old and too sick. Do not think the younger people will save us. They will not – because they have type II diabetes also!
It’s said that kids who are born today are the 1st generation in US history who will not live as long as their parents. Type II diabetes is one of the main reasons for this.
Most people with type II diabetes do not know these FACTS.
- Type II diabetes can be CURED in most people
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of heart disease
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of stroke
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of colon cancer
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of breast cancer
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of endometrial cancer
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of high blood pressure
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of sleep problems
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of osteoarthritis
- Type II diabetes lowers testosterone levels
- Type II diabetics have more erectile dysfunction
- Type II diabetes increases your risk of blindness
- Type II diabetics suffer from more falls
Essentially, type II diabetes accelerates the aging process! You grow older faster on the inside because of type II diabetes.
People, this is not acne we are talking about. Type II diabetes is one of the most serious – AND PREVENTABLE – diseases in the world today!
What’s the cure for type II diabetes?
- Lose some weight
- Do a little exercise
Why don’t doctors tell their patients that they can be cured of type II diabetes?
Why do so many people with type II diabetes stick their heads in the sand buying different colored glucose monitors, rather than taking the steps needed to change their lives?
Your family wants you to stay alive for as long as God intended you to. And so do I.
I'm sad. I'm frustrated – and I really want to help.
NOEL you may have changed my life by reading your message, I’m a newly diagnosed diabetic sufferer at 25 Stone.
Rakz, if you have any questions, just ask.
OH, forgot to mention why I was replying to this particular thread. The very last post was you replying to a gal about exercise and I have printed your comments out and plan to apply them to my exercise routine. In other articles I believe you spoke of cardio, aerobic, strength endurance (?), strength-something….anyway, I have so many questions about what types of exercise would be best for me given my current circumstances, which involves some knee issues like possibly torn cartilage or ligaments, not sure what is going on, but something is. Other issues I can get into later, if you have the time. Which, I’m so hoping you do! Thanks so much!
Hi…I just came across your website today in my research of some supp’s, and found your articles on diabetes to be very interesting. I am desperate for some good, quality information on diabetes type II and what supplements can help me. I am also desperate for some good, sound exercise advice as I am just to start again at working out each and every day.
I read through the interview you did with Yolande Bowles and also found that very enlightening!! (I plan to send her an email too as she has inspired me to want for more for my life).
Currently, I am 100 lbs overweight, new to diabetes (hello, my name is Nancy and I’m a Big-D-Big-II). I have so many illnesses I’ve been dx’d with, I dont know where to begin. I am on 16 meds a day. I am 45 years old. I am needing surgery and absolutely 100% do not want to go through with it because the last surgery was horrific, a total nightmare!! Oh, with the diabetes – yeah, that was a shock to me.
Growing up I watched my mom lose and gain weight over and over and several times had gained way more than I currently have and she was never dx with diabetes. It does not run in her family. So when I was dx’d, whoa, really? Seriously? At that moment when the doc told me I was indeed a diabetic, I was like okay – well, this is the rock bottom I’ve been waiting for, the sign I’ve needed that I finally need to get my life in order and lose all this weight and quite binging on chocolate-this and chocolate-that!
Everything chocolate I crave every day, day in and day out! I love chocolate! Little Debbie’s, Ho-ho’s, Lindor, Hershey – I dont care the name, I love chocolate! Chocolate pie, chocolate cake, doesn’t matter, I will clean my plate!! MMMMM, chocolate! Ok, enuf of that.
Being dx’d with diabetes has SUCKED and totally interfered with my cravings for chocolate. But, I have to add this one little tidbit of information that has swirling around in the back of my mind ever since I saw the first commercial advertising that “If you have taken Risperdal and then developed type II diabetes, call the XYZ law firm and talk to us about the millions you could sue for….blah, blah, blah”.
This lead me to do sporadic research over the years regarding these statements. As it turns out, at this late stage of the game, I’m too late to sue for risperdal-related diabetic diagnoses, but I do wonder – is that how I got diabetes since it doesn’t run in my family. I’ve been on risperdal since february 2005 and was dx’d type II in Nov. 2011.
I’m thinking the time span between the two is too far apart for the drug to cause the type II dx, but who knows how quickly or slowly this stuff works. But you being the chemical geek, maybe you could give me your 2cents worth of info on the matter! Would love to hear it.
Well, I’ve gone on long enough and I am replying to an old thread, so I’m not even sure if you will see my post. I sure hope so tho – I have a ton of questions for you Mr. Geek!! I, too, am a Geek – but of the computer variety. Anyway, like I said – I have a ton of questions for you regarding the meds I’m on, some supplements I thought about taking, your 2cents on Dr Oz (I personally love him, but I tend to love greeks in general).
Ok, well, have at it. Looking forward to hearing back from you Mr Geek!! Take care!!
Hi Nancy, whether or not that medication caused your diabetes I dont know but my rule is that the simple anaswer is problagy the correct answer. I think the simple answer is that it probaby wasnt the medication but even if it was, we will never know for sure so lets just move on and do what we have to to try to correct the situation
I got the impression you really like chocolate 😉 which is fine. you dont have to give up chocolate but to beat diabetes we will have to modify the calories you consume. Instead of eliminating any foods, lets try to focus on eating healthy and reducing a little of the calories you usuaully consume. the MyFitnessPal app (and website) can help you get a handle on that.
Another option is weight watchers. One think I like about WW is the social support. I think the social support is a big factor on why people are successful with it.
I dont think you need any diabetes supplements. Lets just just address this right now with eating a few less calories and trying to eat healthy.
In terms of exercise, if you cant walk because of knee problems, do you have access to a pool? Do you belong to a gym? if yes there may be something there called the upper body ergometer which works the upper body and does not involve the lower body. If you dont have this option, lets just focus on the food right now becuase as your weight goes down, your knees will start to feel better.
I also feel its good to talk to your doctor about your desire to get a handle on this and see what he/she has to say. I dont want you to stop your medications right now. As you lose weight your doctor may decide to reduce some of your medications. Lets leave that up to them.
I think Dr Oz is fine and I do think he tries to help. Sometimes when it comes to the supplements, he gives easy answers to complex questions but I understand why he does this. I dont think you need any supplements to do what you desire to do.
Does any of this help? Happy Easter by the way and remember, Tonight begins your new life so no cheating on Easter! 🙂
Joe what are some things as a type 2 diabetic that we can do to starting this process of getting heathy and hopely getting cured from this sickness I really want to help myself. I already work out 3 days a week at the gym and trying to eatting better cutting out a lot of white starchs and just help myself.
Rachel
Hi Rachel, I think you are off to a very good start. when you work out, here are some ideas that might help
1. do a strength circuit routine; move from exercise to exercise with little /no rest between exercise. this sill maximize the calories burn in the gym and help your blood sugar, A1C etc. Its also not boring which makes it a very good program. Use a weight that you can lift for about 15-20 repetitions. Lift weights 3-4 times per week if possible (start with 2-3 if you are not doing it much)
2. your gym routine should last 30-60 minutes and do aerobic exercise at least 5 days per week if possible. If the cardio gets boring, do a cardio circuit – 15 minutes on the treadmill, 15 on the elliptical, 15 on the bike, etc.
3. When you are eating, try eating according to the “food plate.” Here is the website if you are not used to it http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
Not sure if you saw it but here is an interview I did with someone who used to be a diabetic
its also a good idea to get your “A1c” checked out by your doctor and tell him/her about your efforts to get off the diabetes medications.
Much success Rachel and keep me posted on your progress or if you have any other questions 🙂
While I’m started I may as well add this two cents. I recently had a discussion with the instructor of the Spinning class I attend at my gym.
She called out last week and the substitute was not someone I’d recommend and that’s putting it nicely.This instructor is so reckless in her class that I had to e-mail the management a complaint. I also talked to one of the administrators who defended the instructor and said “That’s just how she was trained” as some sort of excuse as to why this instructor was unconcerned about the safety of her class.
Come to find out this instructor is pretty popular. Lots of people attend her classes. I’ll tell you Joe, when I saw her as a sub, I walked immediately out of the class and then out of the gym. Anyway, the instructor of my class said that they are cutting her class because her “numbers are down.” Geez, am I naive, or did I really not know that they are defending the other instructor because of money?
As a sincere do-gooder, this is really disgusting to me. Knowing of a danger and not taking steps to prevent harm is akin to letting people remain ill so you can sell them their illness related medical supplies. Really unethical. I wonder if there is anywhere in this country where people genuinely help people without exploiting them? Even in the mental health field where everything is a so-called “non-profit,” I have seen people purposely kept out of hospitals when they were a danger to themselves or others, because the community mental health agency would lose money on them while they were hospitalized and not in their care. I have seen mental health patients being kept living in filthy, squalid environments for the same reason.
The kicker was when I witnessed two clients commit a crime against a third client, and the manager did not want me to report the crime to the police, again, for the same reason. If the two guys were incarcerated, the agency could not bill the state for their services.
That’s when I decided that I could do better on my own. I’m going to try hard to be honest and ethical to my clients. If I can’t help them or they need something I can’t do, I will refer them out. I really pray to be a blessing and a help rather than part of the problem. Amen.
Good words and I agree its sad when a gym will put profits above people. Teaching a spinning class is HARDER than doing personal training because you have all people of different healths and fitness levels to take care of. There is no excuse for not doing that in a spinning class. Heck just yesterday in the Philly marathon, 2 men died – and one of them was only 21 years old. So sad but it reminds us all that bad things can happen any time and even to those who are in “good” shape.
Joe, you are preaching good here! You are exactly right. Pharmaceutical companies absolutely do have an investment in selling their products. And you’re right, they never want to pay for prevention. Go ahead and say it, it is a conspiracy. It is ALL about money, not wellness.
I find it unfortunate that a man would rather endure erectile dysfunction than to take the steps to eliminate the disease. I see them all the time, checking the grams of sugar on product labels and then eating the junk while they vegetate in front of the T.V. They have money for a bunch of junk but not for exercise.
Sorry Joe, but you got me started! your articles are so good. I am glad to have a referral source that will help me help others. Thank you so much!
Anytime Christallin, glad I got you started 🙂
Noel, sorry it took so long to write back. my website was being upgraded.
Do you know what your blood pressure is?
Do you know what your A1C level is? Your doctor probably knows this so do call and ask. A1C (also called hemoglobin A1C) is a measure of how your diabetes has been for the last 3 months. Its a better indicator of diabetes progression than blood sugar. When you said your eyesight sometimes gets blurry, that may be a sign that your A1C is getting too high.
You say you get tired in the afternoon. Has your doctor ever measured your “TSH” level? This is the hormone that tells you to make thyroid hormone. Doctors measure TSH to test for hypothyroidism. Just a passing though for me; It might not be a bad test to get esp if you have any relatives who were hypothyroid.
Sometimes hypothyroidism more frequently shows up in people who live around industrial areas on the East coast of the US (nobody really knows why, yet).
Are you currently doing any kinds of regular physical activity -walking, swimming biking etc?
Ok Joe here is my run down!
I’am a Just turning 45 year old male
My weight is down from 260 to 224 pds (Veggie & Water diet)
I am 5′ 11″ tall
Non smoker
I am not a fat person but I do have a gut.
My Mom & Uncle (Mom’s Brother) both had diabetes
Mom passed away in 2008 from Stroke
Father Passed away from Gun shot (Age 50 Healthy all his life)
* No Chest Pains
* Feet swell up & Numbness
* Hand numbness
* Eye sight sometimes blurred
* Some Heart unsteadiness
* Erratic twitching of blood flow in my arms and chest
* By 2pm each day I am very tired (I am a hard worker that now a days cannot work as hard)
* Bending over is becoming difficult for me
* Sometimes feels like my blood runs cold
I do suffer a lot from this disease and I am so tired of how it has invaded my once healthy life. But let me share my greatest relief that I get since my experiences and without this relief I think I would either be bed bound or dead by now and that is believe it or not a simple after noon nap!
When my blood sugar level rises I find great relief in an afternoon nap! Something about that simple rest for about 2 hours that when I wake I feel like I never had a disease even to begin with, I really feel terrific!
Problem is I cant stay sleeping and so my problem comes back. Help!
Hi Noel,
Its hard to keep eating just veggies and water. that’s whats causing your blood sugar to drop. Your brain needs blood sugar so when it drops, you get tired, and cranky.
Besides your type II diabetes,do you have any other health issues – knee problems, shoulder problems, heart problems?
Do you smoke?
how old are you?
Did your parents /brothers sisters etc have diabetes?
are your parents still alive? if not when did they pass and how?
any chest pains at rest or with physical activity?
This info will let me help you the best 🙂
The only thing that I have consumed that has made me feel better is Water & Vegetables period. But after sometime my sugar level drops and I begin to feel pain in my body of which than it brings me to failure.
Noel, thanks, I apprecaite the feedback. I know what I wrote might be thought of as controversial as well as other things Ive written about type II diabetes in the past. The whole idea of “Cure” seems to ruffle the feathers of people the most.
If you have any questions about getting started, do let me know. Ive worked with people who have type II diabetes and Ive seen the good stuff that happens when people start taking care of themselves.
If you don’t know what to do or where to turn ask your questions here and I will help you.
I believe everything you have said and not because you are just saying it, But because this has been my experience as well! Good for you for sharing and I desperately need to do something about my Type 2 problem and I know I have a good chance if I just start really better care of myself!
Thanks, Noel