To the editor:

Jon Stewart, (“A tidal wave of diabetes,” Journal-World, Jan. 31) informs us that this diabetes “epidemic is born largely out of choices people make.”

Jason Eberhart-Phillips says that diabetics are “going to be a big hole on our economy.” The cost of our care will interfere with improving education and the quality of life. He thinks this is a preventable problem.

Do your homework. My two brothers and I have diabetes, not from stuffing our faces with fatty fast foods, but from my mother, who passed on the propensity for that disease. Are you saying that we contracted it on purpose? That we must now “will” it away in a “patient, heal thyself” fashion? That we are not worth keeping alive because we don’t pull our own weight financially?

When I was diagnosed eight years ago, I lost 43 pounds. My diabetes is under control. And MY income pays for it! I paid into Social Security for the 30 years I worked full time. I continue to pay a hefty monthly amount for Medicare and around $4,000 a year for supplemental health insurance.

I’m a drain on our economy? If you pay attention to city commission, county commission, school board and state Legislature spending (including raises — in THIS economy?), it should become obvious that those of us trying to live on a pittance retirement pension from Kansas University and Social Security are offended. If another useless commission is created to determine which diseases may be treated, then you have solved the problem of health insurance. We won’t need any.