Talking with the ADA

I got a telephone call from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) the other evening. The caller wanted to see if I'd like to renew my membership.

Bad question to ask me.

Richard Kahn is the Chief Scientific Officer of the ADA. And at a recent conference he made a speech(PDF) on Diabetes Technology, where he started by admitting

...I am far from being an expert on this subject, which all of you know much better than I.

He then spoke at length about the lack of clear evidence than much diabetes technology provides benefits that justify its costs.

Amy Tenderich has already given her analysis of this speech together with an e-mail from Mr. Kahn.

In reading both her commentary and the original speech I question if Mr. Kahn is in touch with the realities of diabetes control and management for anyone with Type 1 diabetes. Does he know anything about the challenges of dealing with insurance companies to try and maintain a semblance of good control?

I spent years trying to get an insulin pump before my insurance would cover the costs. My recent insulin pump purchase cost me over $500 and the pump company said my coverage was 'very good'. That's a huge price to pay for reasonable diabetes control. And I lived for years with multiple daily injections (MDI), so I really understand the difference.

So back to the ADA and my membership.

I joined the ADA many years ago and have acted as an ADA diabetes advocate in the past. I've also been fortunate enough to raise thousands of dollars for the ADA in various walks and bike rides.

Well no more. Until the ADA senior membership can demonstrate that it's focused on the best needs of those living with diabetes, I can't associate myself with them.

In future my focus will be on other diabetes fund-raising efforts. And I won't depend on ADA's view of the world for diabetes treatment and research, because it's clearly not in my interests to do so.

Instead I'll work with my many friends in the Diabetes blogosphere, groups like TuDiabetes.com and the Diabetes365 project to help educate others on new options in diabetes treatment and in better ways to use these to improve our lives as we live with this terrible disease.

Labels: ADA, nablopomo, reality

posted by Bernard @ 7:29 PM 2 Comments Links to this post