Some diabetics also have juvenille diabetes and type 1. For which they can not help. Type 2 is mainly due to overweight and nutrition issues. Some obese people also have thyroid problems for which they can not help either. Granted many people are obese because of poor choices in life but does that give the insurance co. the right to increase insurance? They increase insurance just because. Do not let them have anymore pull in they way we need care than they already do. A healthy person is denied coverage for certain reasons. A healthy person can not get meds because they are too expensive or can not get certain procedures because of the ins. co. I am a smoker and already pay more in car insurance and health and life. But that is my choice, bad, but still the same. Some people do not chose to be obese or a diabetic. That is very broad to have the insuranc co have a say in the matter. They are already a joke.

Interesting as Australia has a very different type of Health system, yes we have some private health Insurance but our country has State run hospitals, free (well kind of) in that we have a general tax levy workers pay to have the hospitals run. Government hospitals are the majority and there fore tax payers foot ALL the bills for our nations health costs.
When the issues of smoking, diabetes, obesity etc is discussed its usually with the idea that the whole NATION pays for these costs on our systems often at the expense of other issues. However, what can you do? We also do Hip replacements on 97yr olds which cost thirty thousand and yet, who's to say No to this?
I believe Obesity related diseases will drain the whole western worlds health system in the coming 40yrs as the rise of diabetes from obesity, and cardiac issues, etc become the bi-product of a terrible western diet and modern technology's drive to keep the developed nations intert, sitting on arses watching TV and never walking or moving. Even the world health organisation states that Obesity related disease is the next big thang an epedemic germinating and not so preventable as there is no innoculation against good common sense of diet and excersise. Its also the food manufacturers faults, not just people.. food companies are cheap and use too much fat and sugar and salt to offload their products.
The problem is many pronged.

On a personal level, we nurse whoever is in front of us. When I get my handover sheet each day, thats who I am looking after, despite the fact they've smoked , eaten too much, or been a drug uses. And while I do disdain of people who haven't made good choices there is NO easy answer.
the whole western world needs to wake up and change their diets, excersise habits as well as change the way we create fuel and energy.. if only I had a magic wand.

If you really look at it the majority of the obese are low income people. Next time you go to the store lookat the prices of the freash veg. and healthy cuts of meat and compare the prices to the rice potatoes .Look at the cheap cuts of meat they are usually high in fat. So they have to buy what they can afford. And most diabetics who are out of control eat what they can afford plus they try to streatch their med. which contributes to the problem.Then the doctors charge 75 to 125 for visit so they have to use hospitals for basic treatments.granted this is not the only reason but I know it is mine. When I can afford to eat right and take my meds on a reg. bases my weight goes down then we get fin. strained and it is back to the cheap stuff,the weight goes up and the problem's start.

JennaJay: I love you but I have to disagree with you on this. You said you have a disdain of people who make the wrong choices. That's a broad statement. I'm sure we've all made the wrong choice at some point in our lives. ( I made the wrong choice twice in husbands). None of us are perfect." Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. " I have been poor. I remember being pregnant and the Dr. telling me I shouldn't eat potted meat and hot dogs when that was all I could afford. The healthier foods are more expensive in the grocery stores. And some of it has to do with education. Alot of people just might not know what foods are best for them or what foods to avoid. Also, as a type 2 diabetic, I can tell you it's extremely difficult to make good food choices every day . Too, in this hectic world of today, we are so busy and sometimes don't have the time to prepare a good meal. It's quicker and easier to grab fast food. I could go on and on. Don't be so quick to judge until you've walked in someone's elses shoes. It's not always cut and dried-black and white. I've found that most things in life fall somewhere in between-in that fuzzy gray area. Like you said-"the problem is many pronged." ps I still love you.

But as Jenna was saying - the responsibility needs to be put on the food manufactures to make less crap. Totally agree positive health promotion is key, but brainwashing only works on people with a brain (I'm being daft, not contraversial!)