NYC to begin monitoring diabetics.

[Kimberlina]

Ummmmm....I really don't know how I feel about this. Seems a little Big Brother-ish. It isn't as if it is a communicable disease or anything. However, I am all for diabetic education, and if the people WANT to be pestered by the doctor's office, then I think they should be able to opt-in.

[Kimberlina]

Oooops- didn't catch it quickly enough to add the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051215/...NlYwN5bmNhdA--

[halo475]

icky!! It reeks of Big Brother IM (not so humble) opinion

[tbs727]

I don't like it. No one should be monitored, unless they are at high risk of being dangerous to others, without their consent.

[Scattymum]

from reading the article it seems like its for patients that have already being diagnosed??

It does seem a bit big brotherish but in some ways I can see why they are doing it.

Having a DH who injects a few times a day and has had diabetes since his early 20's, a MIL who died at 42 from diabetes related heart problems, 4 BIL with diet controlled Diabetes and the fact that my kids are pretty suseptable to developing it, then I agree its a good thing to moniter blood levels, and to try and help those who are stuggling in controlling .

However, is there a need for a database - doesnt a patient with diabeties attend a diabetic clinic anyway where there condition is monitered by specialists. I think if you wanted to be this closely monitered then it should be by consent only.

[Valerie in WA]

It does say in the article that patients can opt-out if they have privacy concerns.

I see this as concerning for two reasons:

1. It's a baby step toward less & less privacy and more & more databases of this and that information floating around.

2. This information should be monitored by physicians' offices. Rather than spending money to duplicate those services, perhaps they could subsidize the cost of diabetic supplies & medications, and/or co-pays for office visits, or the costs of diabetic education.

[grneyegrl]

well, its not nessicary(sp sorry) to monitor..the doctor can just check your blood level with regular blood work. thats how mine was discovered.. my bsl was only 140 which was diet and exersise but now the give medication..

im sooooooo greatful to have had it discovered before there was damage done to my body..

but they should focus on helping those diagnosed and offer free testing and referal services.

[pkellyc]

I am not for this and I am a diabetic. Invasion of my privacy. Not only that but do smokers smoke because they don't know of the health risks? A waste of money that could be spent somwhere else. Save it for the cure.