10% of NHS budget is spent on t2 diabetes vast majority is self inflicted, aibu to think they should contribute?

[Lauranda]

Its estimated that the cost will go up 17% by 2020. Something needs to change or the NHS will collapse.

Maybe make people that are overweight pay something towards their treatment would in courage people to eat better and exercise more.

Only a tiny tiny amount are fat due to medication. Vast majority eat too many calories and don't move enough. But of course everyone likes to think its not their fault they wobble.

dawn, all that is true.

But most people are fat because they eat too much high energy food, and they don't do enough exercise.

If illness/genetic factors accounted for the majority of cases of overweight and obesity you wouldn't see such massively different rates of overweight among different social groups.

In the UK only 14% of professional women are overweight, compared to 33% of unskilled women. That speaks volumes to me.

I have attended many an academic seminar on this subject. Type 2 diabetes - the lifestyle/obesity one - is considered to be the biggest threat to the financial well-being of the NHS. There is a school of thought (in my institute, at least) that the cost of prophylactic bariatric surgery would be far better value than treating the resultant diabetes.

"However I do believe it is a gross oversimplification to assume that people who are overweight simply "gorge" themselves on food"

I agree. There are multiple and complex causes of obesity.

Personally though, as someone who lives in a poor community with high rates of obesity, where there are 7 fried chicken shops along one 100 yard stretch of the high street, I think that fast food and the easy availability of high calorie snacks - even for people on low incomes - is probably largely to blame.....

I agree, Lem. I genuinely think the bigger overall problem is how much cheaper and easier it is to eat a poor, fatty, high-calorie diet. That's not a quick fix change, though it does need to change. But it needs input from the NHS, from supermarkets, from schools...

Still think all this working long hours sitting down etc is just excuses. No matter what you can find an excuse.

We have more labour saving devices than ever before.

Its easy to get low, eat feel better and repeat. Its also easy to reprogramme yourself.

I'm off to have chick peas, basil, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avacado and olive oil for dinner!

Is my epilepsy self inflicted? The car accident as a result of a seizure? A broken arm from falling off a horse? Where does it end? Anxiety depression. Is post natal depression self inflicted I mean they chose to have a baby they knew it was a risk? What about a baby, which inherits a condition that the parent has?

Anaemia. Mine caused through no fault of my own?

Yes - diet and exercise is always the answer to preventing type 2 diabetes . So why did this man develop it? Should he pay?

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/SteveRedgrave.aspx

We have such a culture which revolves around food - and often 'bad' food it's hardly a surprise that there is an issue with obesity.

Pretty much every social activity now is linked with eating and it almost becomes second nature.

I have been lucky that I have been able to tackle my weight problem - but I will always struggle with food - but having been in that position I would never judge anyone who is struggling to make changes. People proclaim "eat less move more" but for most it's far from that simple.

Also I suffer from pcos which makes it very difficult to lose weight coupled with a previous eating disorder so when dieting I have to be very careful not to become obsessed. I'm a 12 (and that's mainly because of my chest size) I'm a 10 in jeans so not exactly fat

MarieEn you sound vile

And so does your dinner

Obesity is only one risk factor for T2 diabetes so, as others have said, it would be impractical to penalise people for one risk factor for a multifactorial illness and not others. An insurance company would charge extra for all risks even inherited ones, how long till we reach that point in your brave new world? You would then also have to charge those who lose weight by increasing exercise (they might lose weight but could have "self-inflicted" sports injuries, joint wear and tear, etc) I suspect you know this idea is not practical in any way, shape or form.

All in all I can see your frustration with people wanting a "magic pill" and not taking responsibility for their own health. I share that but find myself sniggering at the idea that healthcare professionals could judge if a diet is healthy because we have to rely on the patient telling us. I have today had patients smelling of smoke assuring me that they have given up, who knows if they have or not?

My stepdad was diagnosed as T2 a few years ago. He was stunned when they told him.

He's as slim as a whip, swims every day and eats a very healthy diet of entirely home-cooked food, doesn't smoke or drink etc etc.

He's always done this, mind you; it's not adjustments he's made to his lifestyle since being diagnosed. And yet, he's type 2.

What would you fine him for?

eats a very healthy diet of entirely home-cooked food

That is said time and time by parents here that have just had the your kid is fat letter sent home, yet always when they post their diet it is not healthy.

Op you mentioned weight specifically. How can you say this op isn't fat bashing?

Maybe closing all the greasy fried chicken shops cluttering up high streets, reducing the price of healthier food, and offering cheaper gym memberships would be a start. £1 stores selling multipacks of sweets & cakes...list could go on & on. I grew up in a time when we didnt have all this crap on the high streets..but I bet back then if my DM had given me £1 I wouldn't have bought a bag of crisps with it, Id have been off to the cheapie store for a multipack of 6 bags.

Obvious gluttony annoys me though. Then again I know not everyone is able to resist the lure of junk food and we all have different triggers. I still think a lot of people could eat better and exercise more than they do; you don't have to go to the gym, there are lots of ways even at home. The chair is our biggest killer. There's no point in anybody defending a lazy lifestyle thats going to affect quality of life and/or cause someone to die years earlier than you they would have. Whats the point of that?

Of course you can't refuse to treat T2 diabetes; even if self inflicted. What should those who can't afford to pay do? Go away and die? That would be unethical to say the least, wouldn't it? There are still obese people in countries where healthcare isn't free. Still..there's always a price to pay for greed and laziness. Swings & roundabouts...

The chair is our biggest killer

I think it's the car. We are far less likely to walk anywhere now.

I'm off to have chick peas, basil, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avacado and olive oil for dinner!

Make a good face-pack, that.

Despite all the scenarios you're being presented with MarieNE you're still insisting T2 Diabetes is self inflicted and people are making "excuses".

But it's obviously not your fault you're ignoring other posters. Oh no.

I agree Scousadelic with most of what you've said. I was trying to introduce an idea that idelogicaly is fairer regardless of how feiasble it is to implement.

Once had a bf that was in a and e every couple of weeks with rugby injorys, came from a well off family and was a huge drain on reasources. Always thought he should have to contribute towards a low percentage of the treatment or be made to get insurance. The people at the small a and e knew us very well..

Listening to Iain dale on LBC now, he has diabetes and takes responsibility for giving it to himself. also says it isn't right that hes well off and gets 5 sets of medication that hes currently on for free.