The Cost of Diabetes

You know, I realize we have a financial crisis in our country right now, but we have a healthcare crisis that's just as massive -- diabetes.

I read an article about the cost of diabetes this week that someone sent me. Here's the section of article that was overwhelming:

Nearly 24 million Americans, 8 percent of the population, have Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to kidney failure, blindness and heart disease.

Current guidelines say doctors should prescribe metformin (about $30 a month) to lower blood sugar in newly diagnosed patients and urge them to eat healthy food and get more exercise. Other drugs can be added later, on top of metformin, to help patients who don't meet blood sugar goals. The updated guidelines don't include Avandia, which costs about $225 a month.

Dr. Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist at Duke University Medical Center, said she prescribes whatever it takes to lower her patients' future risk of blindness and amputations. That can mean coupling more costly drugs with metformin to hit blood sugar goals.

Okay. This makes me sad at first - knowing that I have family members who are shelling out big bucks for pills and more pills just to manage this disease. However, for $90 - one time - Kathy Smith's Project: YOU Type 2 will help someone "meet their blood sugar goals" with exercise and diet. The American Diabetes Association saw the need for this type of product, and co-produced the program with Beachbody.

I realize lifestyle change is hard. I've had to make some pretty drastic ones due to some digestive issues I developed after a period of poor dietary choices -- BUT it can be done! It can be done with the support of peers cheering you on! This is what excites me --THERE IS A SOLUTION.