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I disagree. Turn it on its head. We’re talking about not judging people who decide not to take their meds or can’t take their prescribed meds for any number of reasons. If we use the word “conscientious,” the opposite is very judgmental. The term needs to be value-neutral.

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Also, it is not necessary to use ANY of these words. Rather than using judgmental, paternalistic terminology, one could simply write, “Pt reports not taking meds BECAUSE xyz.” The “because” part is important. Otherwise it just reads like an accusation.

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In the U.K., they apparently use the word “concordance.”

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Approxi. 6 months later, one day while at work, I felt a violent shift in my body. Immediately afterwards, I became extremely thirsty, needed to go to the bathroom frequently, and after a week of this, my vision became blurred. At my doctor’s instance, I had additional blood work performed. My fasting blood sugar at this point was at 393!!!!! Gee what a jump!

When I finally went to the doctor to see what was happening, approx. one month later, I asked whether or not the blood pressure medication had anything to do with the increase of blood sugar…I got silence. When I asked whether or not Diabetes type 2 could be healed…I was told under muffled laughter that perhaps if I lost a lot of weight this could happen. My AIC 16.5 (503 BLOOD SUGAR).

I did a lot of research to find out bp medication causes a lot of people to develop diabetes, and that diabetes medications can cause heart problems. I’m currently off all medications. My bp at times is read at 144 and 2 seconds later on the same arm at 128. From what I have read really dangerous bp when one is beyond menopause is over 180 or much higher. A side effect of bp medication includes memory loss…could that possibly be due to not enough blood reaching the head?? I have also read that over 40 years ago, a fasting blood sugar of less than 200 was considered fine and not diabetic. Now fasting blood sugar over 100 is considered cause to prescribe medication. Could this possibly be one of the reasons why MORE people are becoming diabetic….the disease category has been expanded (downward). Oh, metformin the first line of defense…there’s a corrollation between taking this drug and developing arthritis. Between the AIC 16.5 – 503 blood sugar reading and the 6.2 – 142, I lost only six pounds.

I know that many doctors have hearts of gold, but unfortunately an 8-minute visit is not enough time for me to evaluate whether or not this is true or not or whether or not they are operating under the pressure to sell more drugs. I thought that the doctor who practically ran my health into the ground had extremely good intentions for me. Perhaps she did…but I cannot trust a medical industry with such strong ties to drug companies. Not ever ever ever again!!!!

Instead, I do try to be healthier…green drinks, herbal supplements, exercise, positive thoughts, gallbladder liver flushes (so many of my health concerns disappeared), eating organic, etc.

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The funny thing is that I kept forgetting to take the bp medication (lisinpril) and then my blood sugar level went back down to normal (average 142). I also stopped taking the metformin (for last 3 years).

I during this time googled the drugs I was taking and the condition of diabetes that I had. Similar to scurvy, many people recover from type 2 diabetes when the proper nutritional needs are met. However, my doctors and the medical establishment would have people believe that this isn’t possible.

The sad…very sad thing about type 2 diabetes, is that if you take the medications (diabetic, blood pressure, statins, etc.) that are prescribed to you, your body will gradually become more unable to metabolize sugar. This is because these drugs while they suppress symptoms appear to damage the body in ways that make it more prone to chronic illness. Doctors need to go back to being healers, and also to know of natural remedies, and how food supports and can help the body heal itself. Doctors need to get away from selling drugs and to realize that the boundaries of defining disease continue to grow every few years, often voted/paneled by those who have direct financial ties to the pharmaceutical companies. Please understand, I’m not saying that pharma drugs don’t have a place; they do. The do wonderfully well in the short term; but side effects tend to occur with long term usage.

According to reliable sources, Americans represent 5% of the world’s population, and take over 50% of the all prescribed drugs. Yet, we are currently ranked in the 50th percentile among other industrial nations in terms of health, and longevity.

I will remain uncompliant until it’s absolutely necessary for me to do otherwise. I chose quality along with longevity of life.

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Hi Melinda – love that terminology “infinite creativity”! People living with diabetes are the original self-trackers – a relentless pursuit! Thanks so much for sharing your perspective here.

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A reasonably speedy and unpleasant death is the result of failure to take insulin at all for a day or 2. Compliance is such a grossly inadequate word to describe the regime of a type 1 diabetic, no doctor can possibly give me detailed enough instructions to “comply with”, there’s a lot of trial and error and learning by experience-and I’ve had type 1 diabetes for 44 years!

Prof. Jay Skyla uses the term “infinite creativity” in preference to intensive insulin therapy and I like this term also in preference to compliance.

I am managing my diabetes with infinite creativity!

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When my doctor considers adding a medication, (and I currently take six pills a day for various things) I might ask “could I try three months of more exercise to see if it lowers my blood pressure?” Sometimes he has been willing to agree with that request. But when he gives me a good reason as to why we should add it, then I understand better and I agree with him. So I never feel like a little kid following rules. I feel like a responsible adult who wants to stay healthy and active.

I’ve been much more likely to forget a pill if I have a sinus infection or something, because it isn’t in my daily regimen. Otherwise, I never forget my daily pills. And I don’t question or fight taking them. I’m 61 and I’ve had high blood pressure since about age 51. I exercise, watch what I eat, and take pills. My doctor prescribes them because he is the expert about medications and how they work. But I take charge of my health by taking them. To me, it’s a no brainer, because the thought of a heart attack or stroke is not on my agenda. To me, I’m just being proactive about taking good care of myself, with the advice and guidance of my doctor.

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