Diabetes Care, A Burden than the Disease itself?

Filed in archive Lifestyle , Research , Treatment , Views on October 3, 2007

Imagine multiple finger pricks and daily insulin injections, that diabetics has to go through on daily basis, they must feel at some point that such constant therapeutic vigilance is a burden. Not to mention the diet, exercise and more medications that includes for cholesterol and blood pressure.

Such were what researchers from the University of Chicago reported in the October 2007 issue of Diabetes Care.

Many patients with diabetes say that the inconvenience and discomfort of constant therapeutic vigilance, particularly multiple daily insulin injections, has as much impact on their quality of life as the burden of intermediate complications.

On average, patients ranked the burden of comprehensive diabetes care and intensive glucose control as equal to the burden of angina, diabetic nerve damage or kidney damage.

But many patients found both complications and treatment onerous. Between 12 and 50 percent were willing to give up 8 of 10 years of life in perfect health to avoid life with complications.

More surprising, between 10 and 18 percent of patients were willing to give up 8 of 10 years of healthy life to avoid life with treatments.

So, how do you feel about your life as a diabetic? Do you at times feel that caring for your condition is a burden?

Find more details from University of Chicago Medical Center and Diabetes Care Abstract.

[Photo Credit: UCMC]