IRIN Global | HEALTH: Poor struggle to access diabetes care, says study | Global | Thailand | Health & Nutrition

IRIN Global | HEALTH: Poor struggle to access diabetes care, says study | Global | Thailand | Health & Nutrition

It's funny how I spend day in and day out talking to people about getting their diabetes under control, only to go home and think of it as an American Epidemic. Well, it is. However, what I sometimes forget that diabetes doesn't discriminate. Diabetes, similar to all other diseases and chronic conditions does not care where you live or who you are. And, the reality is, diabetes really is the disease of the poor.

Think about it.

Joe has diabetes - why?

Because he has a poor diet - why?

Because he can't afford a meal that's full of fresh fruit and veggies? Because there's no grocery store that sells fresh fruit and veggies? Because he can now buy a large Little Caesar's Pizza for $5 and not think about cooking after a 12 hour work day? Because he's grown up eating junk food? Because McDonald's makes diabetes cheap? Because all there is to eat is white rice, processed grains, fake unsatisfying sugars and starches?

Or, is it because there's no education? Because diabetes and hypertension are silent killers and don't get you until it's too late? Because your blood sugar can be 3 times the normal level and you will not feel any symptoms?

Why isn't there education? Because who cares about preventing disease when there's so much money to be made in treating it. Because there's not enough money in the budget for the poor people to get healthy. In any country.

"Poor diabetes management is in part due to the shortage of trained medical staff (such as ophthalmologists, nephrologists, dieticians) to deal with disease complications"

I guess that's where we come in. At least we have a ton of free services for our chronic care patients. But, even they don't seek care. All that the man diagnosed with diabetes hears from our chronic care coordinator is "you're fat, you're sick, you need to stop eating hamburger", but what we really need to say sometimes is - although you now need to take your health into your own hands, it's not your fault. Look around you. Become not only an active participant in your health, but your health care, your community, your world. Good thing that they have universal coverage in Thailand now.

It's Washington's turn.