A new editorial proposes a simple way for physicians to communicate to patients about the best treatments for (Type 2) diabetes. The “lending a hand” illustration reprioritizes treatment goals, based on research on mortality reduction, to convey that glycemic control is no longer the primary intervention. The “lending a hand” illustration uses the fingers of an open hand to depict diabetes interventions from thumb to pinky in descending order of benefit, relative to complications and mortality.
The five major forms of diabetes interventions are arranged in descending order of importance from thumb to pinky. The order is smoking cessation, blood pressure control, metformin therapy, lipid reduction, and glucose control, respectively.
Holy Hyperglycemia Batman! That is one of the stupidest ideas I have ever read.
The reason their glucose control protocol isn't effective is because they use insulin injections instead of carbohydrate restriction. They tell people to eat fruits and grains and cover the glucose spike by shooting up. The ensuing hypoglycemia-craving cycle is actually worse than natural blood sugar swings.
(Not to mention, their serum glucose limits are too high to prevent damage . My husband is Type 1, but the hospital would not even consider giving him insulin unless his blood sugar was over 200. That's ridiculous. Capillary damage starts at about 150. No wonder people are going blind and losing toes.)
