Hmmm... This is a strange way to direct one's ire, away from the powerful (insurance companies) and towards the socioeconomically low.
I mean, can't we all agree that insulin is extremely high priced in the US, about 8x the price as that in other developed countries, with a strange scam of a scheme going on between the patient, hospital, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and the government.
But, yeah, if they just ate their green veggies.
Ah, I missed your replies. Again; you've missed the point, and argued a tangential one.
The point that you've missed: DM-2 is staggeringly common in our staggeringly obese society. Why is our society staggeringly obese, and thus displays a staggeringly high rate of DM-2? Because Americans by and
large (see what I did there) don't have any incentive to avoid this disease state. I mean, why stop living a sedentary lifestyle and consuming 5000 calories a day when you can simply get on all the medicines (sic) when you inevitably become a metabolic trainwreck?
Before anyone points a self-righteous finger at me for being edgy here.... if you can get mad at the COPD patient that continues to smoke, or the CABG patient who won't take his meds and not feel bad about yourself... then you can also get mad at the fatass who cries "I need free medicines" but also won't eat a salad and hit the running trails. Is it a "mean thing to say"? Sure. But you know what - that's life, baby. Truths are often uncomfortable.
Now, seeing as how "living a healthy lifestyle" and not looking like a disgusting, amorphous blob isn't positive motivation enough to change their behaviors, perhaps negative motivation (it will cost you a lot of money to live this way) will work? Nah. Instead, the cattle will start to recite things like: "its my RIGHT to have the medicines; they should be FREE". Nevermind the fact that the whole problem (in the vast majority of cases) could be obviated by a smidgen of personal responsibility. This is a great example of moral hazard; and it is a
giant (I did it again) part of what is wrong with America.
Is insulin expensive in this country? Sure. Could it be cheaper? Why not? Is corporate fatcat robbery also ruining America? Absolutely.
But on this issue - it really comes down to "put down the bearclaws and get up and move your ass, America" in a
huge percentage of cases. I would love it if endocrinology would chime in here, because I didn't make this stuff up myself. I listened to the endos who were exasperated about this precise issue. I can still hear them: "It wasn't like this in the 80s... NOBODY had DM2. Now, EVERYBODY does."
I'm not asking for the sun, moon, and stars here. I'm just asking Americans to exercise a modicum of responsibility to self and not offload the liability onto the healthcare system. My argument is not directed at the socioeconomically "low". It's directed at fatasses of all income brackets from coast to coast who would rather cry victim and "blame society!" than fix the problem that is well within their control.
Look; you love collectivism. Let me pitch this idea to you: Organize a group that meets weekly and does physically active, constructive, positive things for your community. It need not have any greater structure or organization. Putting my money where my mouth is, I am part of such a group. We have about 12 or so men who meet weekly and basically function as a "league of do-gooders". Group members bring activity ideas to the group, and we go and do the right thing. We don't fight crime or foil bank robberies planned by robot masterminds; we just do good things. Most recently, GroupMember09 said: "Hey men - my neighbors are an elderly couple who can no longer live independently. They need help moving all their stuff into their new living situation, because they're old and frail. They have no family. Professional movers aren't in their budget." On the designated day, 8-10 able-bodied men show up, muscle up, and move grandpa/grandma to their new home. No payment needed. Just doing the right thing. There's a lot of things to do that will improve the community. Find some things and go burn the calories to get them done. Pick up trash along a highway. Build some bike trails. Clean a waterway. Whatever. It's not hard.
Hey, America: want to alleviate disease burden, lower your healthcare expenditures, improve your self-esteem, live longer, feel better, and improve society at large? Get up. Get out. Do it. Walk. Run. Bike. Swim. Clean. Help. Verb.
Stop making excuses. Go do it.
Want a better country? Look like Captain America, and go do heroic things. You probably won't end up needing to adjust your insulin sliding scale and wonder why its so expensive. Have the body of a Greek God, and write your Epic.
Imagine how awesome America would be if this were the norm, instead of "My life is fast food, a desk job, and social media."
EDIT: If enough people say so, I'll continue my rant. I've got more to say. I'll shut up for now, because I'm going to the gym to get that Greek God Bod.
