What is classed as a chronic illness in Cyprus

[boro886]

I was hoping someone might be able to answer the above.

I have type 2 Diabetes and in the UK it is classed as a chronic illness. I have seen mentioned that in Cyprus that sufferers of a Chronic illness can apply for a medical card. Is Diabetes therefore a chronic illness and if it is does it give you full medical card benefits. I am 62 years old and therefore dont qualify yet as a pensioner.

[PhotoLady]

Apparently, there is a list which is referred to for a Chronic Illness but nobody appears to know how to find the source of said list....

A friend of ours has had a similar problem but for a different reason to yours.

Go and see the people at the Citizens Centre office where they issue medical cards and they should be able to help you. Persevere with your quest because it seems they don't all necessary share their information! It's a case of finding the "right person" to deal with your enquiry....

[josef k]

I gather the list is in Table 6, Part I(B) of Regulation 8. However I can't find those regulations so not very helpful I'm afraid.

[PaphosAL]

Of course Type 2 Diabetes is a Chronic illness, as there is NO medical cure for it, only prescribed palliatives that help ease it's symptoms for the rest of your life!

Miss a few doses, for whatever reason, and you're dead. Now, how chronic is that? AL

[boro886]

I agree PaphosAL but will the cypriot authorities agree

[PhotoLady]

I gather the list is in Table 6, Part I(B) of Regulation 8. However I can't find those regulations so not very helpful I'm afraid.

Yes, that's right Josef - that particular part has proved impossible to source and I looked long and hard for my friend.... must only be available to the authorities.

However, our friend is now sorted and has said medical card

[Poppy]

There is a cure for type 2 diabetes. You can actually cure yourself by losing weight and changing your diet - not easy but possible. As far as I am aware there is no cure for type 1 diabetes however whether or not either is classed as chronic in Cyprus I don't know.

[PaphosAL]

Thanks for that input, Poppy. I stand corrected and will eat humble pie for supper tonight!

Cheers- AL

[galexinda]

Plenty of information on the WWW about Type 2 diabetes and how lifestyle changes can change the prognosis. as Poppy says Type 1 Diabetes is a different matter.

This is a link to the Cyprus Diabetic Association:

http://www.idf.org/membership/eur/cypru ... ssociation

[boro886]

Well thank you Poppy I will ask my consultant to contact you and discuss, he clearly doesnt believe that it is as easy as you say to reverse the condition. I am 6ft 2ins and 14 stone so not over weight. I have had the condition for 9 years and have eaten healthily since and still on medication, so exactly what sort of diet you would suggest I am not sure. Just out of interest have you got type 2 diabetes and cured yourself as you mention. I however must do better as you say!!!

[Poppy]

I did not mean to be rude boro886. No I do not have Diabetes but my husband does and unlike you he is overweight. I am not saying that everyone can be cured because everyone is different but I am saying what my husbands specialist tells him and certainly when he is very very good his blood sugars are at a good level.

[boro886]

I did not mean to be rude boro886. No I do not have Diabetes but my husband does and unlike you he is overweight. I am not saying that everyone can be cured because everyone is different but I am saying what my husbands specialist tells him and certainly when he is very very good his blood sugars are at a good level.

Thanks for that, i didnt mean to be rude either but you get a bit touchy regarding diabetes. It isnt understood by so many and I would like nothing more than to rid myself of it. I have started to vastly reduce carbohydrates and eat protein as much as i can which helps me and might help your husband unless he is already trying that. thanks again. alan

[PaphosAL]

Easiest way to diet here in the UK, when you're a healthy 6ft tall male weighing 14 stone and want to reduce your weight to slightly under 10 stone, is to fight an HMRC full-blown Tax Investigation over a 4 year period, like I did...

Cheers- AL (still 64kg)

[boro886]

Easiest way to diet here in the UK, when you're a healthy 6ft tall male weighing 14 stone and want to reduce your weight to slightly under 10 stone, is to fight an HMRC full-blown Tax Investigation over a 4 year period, like I did...

Cheers- AL (still 64kg)

Blood hell, thats a bit drastic, one thing for certain i will never be 10 stone again unless i have someething more serious. hope you are ok though

[PaphosAL]

I'm fine thanks, boro886, though the exercise finished up squeezing £14k out of my life savings, to help pay for the Tax Inspector's diamond encrusted Pension, to help him retire to sunnier climes when the little s**t reaches age 55... He who has never done a single day's productive work for his country since the day he left school..

Total and absolute parasites, living and retiring well, off the backs of the hard-working majority! May the fleas from a million hedgehogs and camels infest their a**holes for perpetuity!

Humble apologies for steering this thread OFF TOPIC, sorry! Rant over.. Tomorrow, I promise to research as deeply as possible Chronic Diseases (as described by the RoC Gov)

Cheers- AL

[JimX]

Well I used to pay for medical insurance, then when I was told Diabetes is not covered by this because of the condition covers so many other problems, at least at a cost I could not afford to pay, I decided to use what medical help I could find at the General hospital, for sure drug charges would be prohibitive if this was not the case.

Just to warn some here, my doctor at the hospital has never checked my eyes, feet or blood pressure, a must have when you have this condition, there is a Specialist at the General probably best you search him or her out for a proper check up, and finally yes Diabetes is a Chronic illness.

[boycott]

Have a read of this article regarding Type 2 Diabetes, sorry it is to long to cut and paste.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... rcise.html

Basically it says that Type 2 Diabetes can and should be controlled by losing weight and excerise and there is a feeling amongst the medical profession to change the title from Type 2 Diabetes to 'Walking deficiency syndrome' as it is caused by people not taking any or enough excerise.

[William Morris]

Type 2 CAN be caused by obesity but that is not the only cause. However, once you have it, it cannot be cured. Either by exercise or diet.

Diabetes is the bodies inability to produce enough (type 2) or any (type 1) natural insulin.

Insulin is produced by the pancreas and it breaks down the sugars in food to be used for energy.

Too much sugar in the blood stream causes the illness. Medication of manufactured insulin helps the body the maintain the correct levels.

As the father of a Type 1 since he was 5 years old may I say that my son has never missed a day at school or college or work due to he's condition. He works, he drives, he takes part in any number of "normal" activities.

It is all a question of not letting the condition get the better of you.

They, diabetics, have a saying ...

My hair is brown, my eyes are blue, I have diabetes.

It is never a debilitating illness. It is a condition. One where a normal life can and should be led.

[Jimgward]

Having a little knowledge of this....

Type 1 is the testing regime/insulin injection/pump version that can be very serious, often starting at birth or young age.

10% or less of Diabtics have Type 1.

Type 2 most often occurs in adulthood and is much more prominent now than ever, mainly due to lifestyle, diet and weight issues. Some race issues cause it to be more frequent, i.e. Many from India, Pakistan and that area of Asia, develop type 2 often as a result of change of diet to a westernised diet where their bodies cant handle the increased sugar.

Type 2 for most people - those where lifestyle plays a very large part - is controllable and often curable. Type 2s generally dont use meters for self-testing and usually only take drugs. Diet, excercise and drug control can make it not so serious.

Uncontrolled type 2 (sadly for many in the West) can lead to limb loss, blindness and death, along with many other illnesses. We have become better are treating, such as bloop pressure at extremities.

The Mediterranean diet is recommended for all. Few people who eat healthily develop type 2. But that has to be over lifetime to prevent, but once diagnoses, diet and excercise should be the first treatment.

In very old people, that can be very difficult to control and with this age group, it can be commone with people who are not overweight.

Sugar is the killer. We have spent far too long talking about fats and carbohydrates and meats and eggs and all sorts. Typical Daily Mail misinformed claptrap.

Sugar and in particular, manufactured sugar - known in the US as high fructose corn syrup and in the UK as glucose fructose, is a particular cause of diabetes, obesity and a host of other problems....

In the US, they started using HGCS as a replacement for cane sugar, in the early 60's. CocaCola uses it as a sweetener in coke, making it addictive and given in such high doses, it is killing people. It cant be properly injected by the body. CocaCola add salt to coke, to makeyou thirstier, then more HGCS to disguised the salt, masking a potent mix.

They reckon most of the obesity in the US is down to HGCS and as a result, most of the Type2.

It is now, as GF, become a common sweetener in the UK and Europe, particularly for jams, sweets, additives etc. It should be avoided. Google this and see the horrendous stories. Also, watch some of the YouTube videos of documentaries from the US and UK. Eminent professors, consultants and doctors all blasting this additive. You have to ask, why is it still allowed?

[geoffreys]

Having a little knowledge of this....

Type 1 is the testing regime/insulin injection/pump version that can be very serious, often starting at birth or young age.

10% or less of Diabtics have Type 1.

Type 2 most often occurs in adulthood and is much more prominent now than ever, mainly due to lifestyle, diet and weight issues. Some race issues cause it to be more frequent, i.e. Many from India, Pakistan and that area of Asia, develop type 2 often as a result of change of diet to a westernised diet where their bodies cant handle the increased sugar.

Type 2 for most people - those where lifestyle plays a very large part - is controllable and often curable. Type 2s generally dont use meters for self-testing and usually only take drugs. Diet, excercise and drug control can make it not so serious.

Uncontrolled type 2 (sadly for many in the West) can lead to limb loss, blindness and death, along with many other illnesses. We have become better are treating, such as bloop pressure at extremities.

The Mediterranean diet is recommended for all. Few people who eat healthily develop type 2. But that has to be over lifetime to prevent, but once diagnoses, diet and excercise should be the first treatment.

In very old people, that can be very difficult to control and with this age group, it can be commone with people who are not overweight.

Sugar is the killer. We have spent far too long talking about fats and carbohydrates and meats and eggs and all sorts. Typical Daily Mail misinformed claptrap.

Sugar and in particular, manufactured sugar - known in the US as high fructose corn syrup and in the UK as glucose fructose, is a particular cause of diabetes, obesity and a host of other problems....

In the US, they started using HGCS as a replacement for cane sugar, in the early 60's. CocaCola uses it as a sweetener in coke, making it addictive and given in such high doses, it is killing people. It cant be properly injected by the body. CocaCola add salt to coke, to makeyou thirstier, then more HGCS to disguised the salt, masking a potent mix.

They reckon most of the obesity in the US is down to HGCS and as a result, most of the Type2.

It is now, as GF, become a common sweetener in the UK and Europe, particularly for jams, sweets, additives etc. It should be avoided. Google this and see the horrendous stories. Also, watch some of the YouTube videos of documentaries from the US and UK. Eminent professors, consultants and doctors all blasting this additive. You have to ask, why is it still allowed?

All true.
So why isn't diabetes (type 1 and 2) classified as a chronic illness in Cyprus?
Geoff.