The Big Guns Who Fight for Big Pharma

With the activities of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, what is a person with type 2 diabetes to think and do? With statements from Dr. Ratner about the dangers of some oral medications, “The data are inconclusive,” said Dr. Robert Ratner, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association. He said even if there were some excess risk, it would be “exceptionally low.””

This is the same Dr. Robert Ratner, chief scientific and medical officer for the ADA that says, “Many people with type 2 diabetes who are on medications don't need to do home glucose monitoring at all," in talking about oral medications. Outside his obtuse statements, I will give him credit for avoiding in general any acknowledgment of his other financial interests or conflicts of interest. These I am concerned about because of his constant criticism of anyone that may cause harm to corporate sponsors of the ADA and their medications. I can only guess that they have approached meter manufacturers and been turned down and therefore his statement about glucose testing.

I post his picture so that everyone can recognize him. Read this about Dr. Ratner.

 

The major author of the AACE Diabetes Algorithm is Alan J. Garber, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Molecular & Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He is the 2013-2014 AACE Immediate Past President, 2013-2014 American College of Endocrinology Chancellor.

I post his picture so that everyone can recognize him. Read this about Dr. Garber.

These are two of the big guns in the promotion of oral medications for type 2 diabetes and both promote oral medications over insulin for people with type 2 diabetes. Dr. Garber was the author of this article or study if you must that appeared in ADA Diabetes Care section. It is fully supportive of the diabetes drugs, minimizes the risks involved, and covers mainly Byetta and Victoza.

Both of these doctors seem to avoid having to disclose conflicts of interest and just list prior jobs they have held in the academic world. They are both very vocal about how little needs to be done for people with type 2 diabetes. This is upsetting to me.