Even with improving financial atmosphere,
focus on growth and infrastructure developments which were addressed at the
recent budget announcement by our Finance Minister with focus on bringing the
progressive agenda and putting GDP growth in track there are still many
financial loopholes which are drastically affecting the people who are already suffering
from poverty.
So what is the relation between poverty and
diabetes?
Generally, we try to control diabetes by
eating right and healthier food options, getting medicines and by adopting
better lifestyle. But, what if we get trouble in finances and are unable to buy
healthier food options or get treated for diabetes and to buy medicines? What
if due to stress of finances are unable to focus on living a stress free life
and thus are unable to exercises?
Fact is, people with diabetes who have
difficulty paying for food, medicine and other basic needs also have trouble
managing their diabetes. Those who have trouble paying for food or medicine are
prone to the highest risk of poor diabetes control. Poor control means higher
blood sugar, increased cholesterol and blood pressure than normal.
You may think having a medical insurance shall
back you up for any health emergencies, but the ugly fact is first, how many of
us are already medically insured to cover such lifestyle diseases? Second, despite
having a medical insurance coverage there are many unfulfilled basic needs which
are associated with worsening diabetes control and thus exposing an individual
to high use of expensive healthcare services.
Talking about medical insurance, traditionally
it has been observed that patients come in for clinical check-ups or
hospitalizations, but more importantly the time that determines their overall
health is spent in the absence of any health care system. India’s primary,
secondary or tertiary healthcare systems can be held accountable for health
outcomes but these consequences are more determined by situations for which
most health care systems have limited experience in dealing with. By simply increasing access to healthcare and
by being medically insured does not solves the root causes of illness, what is missing
is the ability of patients will and a need to stay healthy and manage their
illnesses which is more likely to be in illnesses like in diabetes, which is
more manageable when known earlier and treated accordingly.
If we start focusing on changes in our
lifestyle and attitude towards healthcare financing that might encourage our
country’s healthcare delivery structures. The need of the hour is also to think
about India’s entire health management considering its population and the possibilities
to address health issues in not just the typical healthcare management but also
thinking of it as a situation which is medically unmet and is a basic need of
improving our health.
This doesn’t means that we are not advocating
medical assistance through insurance (either individually or by country wide
health insurance systems which were spoken by Finance Minister Shri Arun
Jaitley, medical aid is helpful and is a need especially for diseases which are
prescription based and thus medication coverage is most appropriate but we also
are focusing on the other aspect of health situations like diabetes which are
not just prescription based and which can be treated by giving medicines, we
are talking about reviving and looking at the healthcare in a more
all-inclusive and environment.
Looking at identifying the diseases like Type
2 Diabetes by educating the masses
providing preventive medical environment through need based solutions as
well as adopting technologies to identify the disease and thus reducing the huge
burden of financial impact on a country by such diseases. The economic impact
of diabetes on an individual as well as a country are very-very huge.
As we did covered about insurance in our
earlier blog, people who
have Type 2 Diabetes are considered under “High Risk Category” by most of the
health insurance providers which meant that the premium policies were always
higher for a diabetic person as compared to a healthy individual of same income
and age. A diabetic person is prone to many critical illnesses arising out of
high blood sugar levels and since diabetes also affects the treatment of some
other serious health issues many few insurance providers are there in market
that provides a proper coverage.
Medical experts worldwide have been saying,
the more 'insecurities', the worse is the outcome. For example, diabetes is a complex disease to
treat and social variables play an important role that cannot be easily
controlled by the government. Many diabetic patients will admit that they have trouble
affording food and regularly face problems paying for high cost of medications.
There are many people who have a diabetic person in their family and who have problems
paying for a better or more suitable place to live with open spaces to walk and
exercise or a place with access to gym or swimming facilities which can help
them to control a lifestyle and thus reducing the risks of acquiring diabetes.
With our two decades of experience we have felt that many of patients have difficulty
in paying for one or more of these basic needs.
The
overall impact is that most of patients had trouble with diabetes management in
varying ways. For example, having problems in affording right food considerably
increases the odds of poor diabetes control and increased visits to a doctor
but their medical insurances have not discouraged them to visit the emergency
rooms or getting hospitalized for more complexity arising out of diabetes.
CHOOSE
WISELY & PRESS THE RIGHT BUTTON
So, whatever is your financial situation, let us know what
your preferences will be to better manage the risk of diabetes? We only can
recommend to visit www.grass-diabetes.com
and know more on what can be done now!
Awaiting your comments and feedback.
Yours,
Dr. MS Singhal MD - Singhal Diabetic Clinic, Haridwar www.Grass-Diabetes.com
*****
Image Source:
Stethescope Dollars- Image courtesy of hywards FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Costs - Image courtesy of Stuart Miles FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Disease and Health - Image courtesy of Stuart Miles by FreeDigitalPhotos.net
