Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gerri on March 29, 2009 at 3:40pm

Hi Elaine,

I use 10 units daily & don't go through a whole vial either (thank goodness), but Lantus still expires in 28 days either way.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 28, 2009 at 5:00am

Thanks, Rick. I'll check out the mail order companies. :-) Elaine

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 30, 2009 at 6:40pm

Thanks,Rick. Medcohealth has Lantus. :-) El

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Permalink Reply by Jan on March 27, 2009 at 9:51pm

You can use Levimir as your long-acting insulin and Novolog as your fast acting. I wonder if Levimir is less expensive; seems like I heard somewhere it was. Now WHERE is that medical insurance the members of Congress get that is supposedly going to be available to all? I know Obama has a lot to do, and I hope he concentrates on health care next.

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Permalink Reply by Kris on March 28, 2009 at 4:39am

It's working fantastically, thanks. I get my insulin and supplies for free, get consultations free, bloodwork free, the only expense I have connected with my diabetes is buying hypo treatments!

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 28, 2009 at 5:07am

I know your system works better. Our infant mortality rates are shameful. Most of our population is un-insured or under-insured. About 1/2 the bankruptcies here are health care related.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 28, 2009 at 5:05am

Well, "rationing" is always the complaint, wherever you are. Right now the USA rations health care supplies and services by 1) health (ever been denied coverage?) and by 2) wealth. Our status as 27th in mortality rates demonstrates that 26 other countries do a better job w/ their population.

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Permalink Reply by Kris on March 28, 2009 at 5:10am

Exactly, at least with the UK all the money is going into providing the best possible treatment compatible with offering treatment to all.

While it's hard to get a pump over here, I just spent a week on a DAFNE course and I feel like I'm in a position now where I can achieve control that is near enough as good as a pump on Basal/Bolus. How much would a 1 week course with a Diabetic Specialist Nurse and a Diabetic Specialist Dietitian (with a short contribution from a Diabetologist) cost in the US?

There are money concerns, and there is the cases of GPs not wanting to give people as many test strips as they need, but this is more about ignorance of the condition among GPs (who have breadth not depth of knowledge on mediical issues) than rationing.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 28, 2009 at 9:01pm

OMG! A week of training w/ a diabetic specialist nurse and diabetic special dietiion!!!! I got 1 hour minutes w/ a nurse in the hospital (she was a friend of a friend, so I got "special treatment")..and about 30 minutes w/ a nutritionist (who gave me handouts).

We also have the insurance problem of them wanting only to pay for 4 strips a day and the doctors (if you find a selfless one who will spend his time filling out paperwork) begging for more if you are a new diabetic or beginning an exercise program, etc., ad nauseum.

And...I had good insurance! for the USA.

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Permalink Reply by Jason on March 28, 2009 at 5:46pm

I'm not sure I understand your last sentence. Everyone dies and people in the USA have one of the best life expectancy rates in the world. If you are speaking of strictly infant mortality rates, then you must realize that direct comparisons between countries are not a reliable metric because different countries have different criteria for what is and is not a live birth. The USA happens to count every single infant mortality in its numbers, whereas other countries only do so if the infant met a certain weight, or length, or survived for 24 hours, or a combination of these criteria (or other criteria).

There is much wrong with the USA health care situation and competition by a government program may very well be an excellent solution. I don't believe you can simply pick another country's health care plan and expect to be able to plug it in here and have it work.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 28, 2009 at 9:05pm

The AMA had a recent study that compare outcomes and found that the UK had better outcomes, even when you looked at rich US citizens. The crisis based system of the US had worse outcomes even for the most wealthy. The wholistic approach--the family practitioner, who knows the whole person/patient--was most effective.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on March 28, 2009 at 9:19pm

I wonder how the life expectancy of minorities and poor in the United States vary from the average life expectancy. Actually, I know the answer. There is a big gap in life expectancies for minorities v. whites and poor v. rich. Our average may be high, but that's because the wealthy live into their eighties (and nineties). Poor folks, not so much.

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