Hungary to punish diabetics if they don't stick to diet

[trophywench]

I had more trips in ambulances - and a Police car once - to various hospitals whilst on Humulin than ever before or since, so I really don't think it will save money!!!!

Never before H, once since coming off H.

On H, about 12.

[everydayupsanddowns]

I'm not really sure what I think about this.

It seems AGAIN about education. I don't believe removing treatment options is helpful. The blame seems to be being placed at the door of the patient (non-compliance being assumed).

We all know that managing diabetes is nothing like as simple as take injection/tablet a and results b will naturally follow.

These people might be assumed to be scoffing cake and biscuits, when perhaps their 'mistake' is following the very dietary guidelines they are instructed with.

So many HCPs in this country still seem to think that sugar is the be-all and end-all of dietary control required - if that's the case in Hungary too then good results will not necessarily follow whether on analogue or NPH.

It doesn't matter *what* insulin people are given to take if they are not taught to use it properly.

[trophywench]

Hear flipping Hear.

[cakemaker]

Hungarian diabetics who fail to stick to their diet will be deprived of more modern treatments from July, under a government decree published Monday aimed at cutting health spending.

Diabetics undergo a blood test on average every three months and those who score high levels of glycemia more than twice a year could be turned away from treatments with analog insulin -- more efficient but also more expensive -- and left with the less efficient human insulin, under the new rules.

Currently, all diabetes treatments are subsidised by the state, which hopes to reduce health spending with the new rules.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120423-...ont-stick-diet

After reading this I wondered why and searched for info on Hungarian socio economic problems. I read a report Nov. 2006 which basically said that Hungary was going down the pan and they had to take drastic action.

The reasons for the austerity measures were to do with the introduction of the Euro. There is a high rate of unemployment and the policies will in real terms reduce wages and standards of living.This doesn't in my opinion justify taking medical care away from the populace.
I imagine that lower living standards and wages will mean less money to spend on good food. The added stress of dieting and less money will no doubt have a big impact on some lives. Poor people.

And we moan about the NHS!

Anyway; thought you'd like to know; or not!!

[AJLang]

That is absolutely awful. I had loads of problems on Insulatard - particularly with the insulin running out so that my BGs started to rise from 4pm even if I hadn't eaten - and nighttime hypos were a regular occurrence - so Levemir is much better for me. There are aso many reasons why it is difficult to get a good HBA1c e.g. going through a large period of stress, gastroparesis etc - it would be awful for these people to be "punished" for reasons beyond their controlled. HBA1Cs every three months makes it sounds like they are being policed rather than treated like humans.

[toby]

Do they not have human rights in Hungary

[slimjim]

we in Britain had better keep an eye on the Hungary situation as we all know the EU will put this on us as well soon they have tried everything else so why not this if it does it is about time people of Britain stand up and be counted and tell the EU that unlike our government we will stand up to you

[Northerner]

Hungary justifies its decision:

The public reimbursement system for medicines of patients suffering from diabetes and prostate cancer has been recently amended. The provisions concern medicines of the above mentioned patient groups with increased (50%, 70%, 90%) and super increased (100%) reimbursement rates. The aim of the amendment was to further specify previous provisions, as well as to enhance the practical application of professional rules.


According to the new provisions, since 1 July 2012 the use of analogous insulin therapy, following a one-year period of application, may only continue if the patient’s appropriate carbohydrate metabolism target values, based on two measurements, were sustainable during the six months prior to the renewal of the specialist’s recommendation.

The Ministry of National Resources (NEFMI) expects the current amendment to significantly improve the effectiveness of insulin therapies for patients suffering from diabetes. The advantages of analogous insulin therapy – which is rather more expensive than human insulin – and the justification of its public financing can only prevail if patients fully comply with their doctors’ therapeutic recommendations.

It is important to note that we do not wish to penalize chronic patients, on the contrary: we wish to treat and support them in a way that motivates general practitioners (GP), via the GP indicator system, as well as specialists to constantly check their patients’ condition.

http://www.xpatloop.com/news/more_ef...tes_in_hungary

So, how do they determine whether someone is complying, but unable to get control within targets, and people who are not complying - can they really do it on the basis of two (presumably HbA1c) tests a year? Given a lot of the experiences I've read on the forum, that is simply not possible because there are so many factors to consider. It's not automatic that the dietary and lifestyle changes along with any medication will succeed as the goalposts can move signiflcantly even if someone tries their hardest. I do understand that people need to take responsibility, but it sounds like quite a few people who do will still fall through the net. How will this make them feel? Depressed, despondent, guilty, a failure...

[lightbulb]

Hi

This seems totally ridiculous. I would be really shocked if this was allowed to go through as it would seriously raise questions around human rights.

[trophywench]

Which is exactly what I said back or Page 1, lightbulb !