Diabetes Fear Psychology and Overdiagnosis

Diabetes Fear Psychology and Overdiagnosis

Diabetes has become a massive industry, with doctors, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic centers, and even alternative medicine practitioners capitalizing on the fear surrounding the disease. The moment a person is diagnosed with diabetes or even borderline sugar levels, they are pushed into a cycle of continuous medical tests, expensive treatments, and lifelong dependency on drugs like insulin and costly oral medications.

Fear Psychology and Overdiagnosis

Many doctors use fear as a tool to keep patients hooked on treatments. Patients are often made to believe that if they don’t take medication immediately, they will suffer from severe complications like blindness, kidney failure, amputations, or heart attacks. While diabetes is indeed a serious condition, the way it is marketed creates unnecessary panic. Many people are subjected to excessive blood tests and continuous monitoring without even considering the possibility of managing the condition naturally.

The Cost Factor – Rich vs. Poor

For the wealthy, diabetes management is just another expense—they can afford costly insulin, continuous glucose monitoring devices, and premium health insurance. They indulge in unhealthy lifestyles and then spend a fraction of their wealth on top-class treatments. Meanwhile, poor people are the worst affected. They struggle to afford even basic medicines and often have to depend on government hospitals, where care is substandard. Many cannot afford insulin or advanced testing and end up suffering from complications simply due to financial constraints.

Over-Reliance on Medication & Ignoring Lifestyle Change

Doctors and pharmaceutical companies rarely emphasize long-term sustainable solutions like dietary modifications, exercise, or lifestyle changes. Instead, they prescribe medicines that often come with side effects, leading to other health complications. The healthcare system is more focused on symptom management rather than addressing the root cause of diabetes.

The Rise of Herbal, Yoga, and Alternative "Cures"

Sensing an opportunity, the herbal medicine industry, yoga practitioners, and self-proclaimed health gurus have also jumped into the business. They sell herbal remedies, miracle cures, and Ayurvedic treatments with little scientific backing. Many people desperate to avoid costly medications turn to these treatments, sometimes at great risk. Some of these may be effective, but many are just money-making schemes with no real benefits.

Exploitation by Spiritual Leaders

Even spiritual leaders have entered the diabetes treatment industry. They conduct yoga camps, sell herbal supplements, and make grand claims about reversing diabetes through spirituality alone. While mental health and stress management are important in diabetes control, making false claims and charging exorbitant fees is another form of exploitation.

The Need for Government Regulation

The government needs to step in and regulate the industry:

1. Stricter Control on Diabetes Diagnosis – Not every minor fluctuation in blood sugar levels should lead to medication. Lifestyle changes should be the first step.
2. Affordable Medicines and Insulin – Diabetic medication should be available at lower prices so that even the poor can access them.
3. Awareness Campaigns Focused on Prevention – Public campaigns should teach people about managing diabetes through proper diet, exercise, and stress reduction rather than just promoting medicines.
4. Regulating Alternative Treatments – Herbal medicine and yoga should be scientifically evaluated, and only those with proven benefits should be promoted.
5. Transparency in Healthcare Costs – Diagnostic centers and hospitals should not be allowed to conduct unnecessary tests just to extract money from patients.

Diabetes is more than just a disease; it has become an industry where everyone is trying to make money—doctors, pharmaceutical companies, yoga gurus, and spiritual leaders. The focus needs to shift from fear-based treatments to holistic well-being, emphasizing affordable healthcare, lifestyle modifications, and scientific research. The government should play a crucial role in ensuring that treatment is effective, ethical, and accessible to all.