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Messing about with the introduction

The introduction to this article has already been labeled "too long" and containing far too much detail. Over the last few days there have again been numerous edits to the intro, and I feel some of them are duplicative (e.g. intimating again and again that type 1 is due to hyposecretion of insulin) and overly detailed (e.g. wanting to state that DM1/2 are polygenic and MODY is monogenic). I have done some rejigging.

In general, this shockingly important article is still in an abysmal state. I have previously tried to interest some editors in a short-term collaboration, including MCOTW. In my mind, the following problems exist:

1. We need a couple of great, widely accessible sources
2. We need to decide what needs to go in subarticles, and what doesn't
3. We need to discuss recent evidence-based guidelines, such as the 2008 NICE guideline in the UK

Any more wisdom? JFW | T@lk 07:44, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

Dear User:Jfdwolff, your point of view on the INTRO is not supported by WP:LEAD; deletion with a frivolous explanation (e.g. yours "I really think...") qualifies as Blanking of WP:VANDALISM, because it was based on a private opinion, and additionally it contradicted the guidelines provided by WP:LEAD, because MODY is a distinctive type and monogenic diabetes is a distinctive group, without which diabetes is not presented completely; I divided the lead (intro) by adding a new chapter, because the complications were mentioned at the beginning and treatment is not strictly the disease, but only... the remedy. Sincerely, (162.84.184.38 (talk) 03:46, 6 August 2008 (UTC))

Firstly, please be good enough to await consensus here before redoing your edit. If you're unfamiliar with this, please have a look at WP:BRD.

I tried to explain that presently MODY is regarded as an unusual form of diabetes. Your insistence of a 1300 byte chunk of text to clarify its existence in the lead is, in my mind, a WP:WEIGHT problem. I will settle for a single sentence that notes the existence of several rare forms of diabetes, which apart from MODY would need to include Wolfram syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Friedreich's ataxia and numerous others. But all this distracts from the fact that DM2 (and DM1) are the main forms, and together affect many more people than the rare forms. Lead sections simply need to be selective, and I think this is something that is best left outside the lead. I know you disagree, so please propose a solution that will make us both happy. I'm happy asking WP:MED to give comments. JFW | T@lk 06:24, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Very well, instead of discussing (why to waist time), just, please, put in your sentence in front of the paragraph with (irrelevant) 1921 and I will figure it out, what you meant and why (appreciating people's intelligence is polite); my concerns, expressed above, will be satisfied by just three words: monogenic diabetes (with the reference) and MODY (hyperlinked), though, it is up to you, how to do without polygenic; the proposed and justified division into 2 chapters made the lead (intro) easier to overview at one glance; I have no attachment (see WP:OWN), but do not like exclusions of minorities (it smells like a discrimination) especially inconsistent with WP:LEAD (162.84.184.38 (talk) 15:26, 6 August 2008 (UTC)).

I'm one of those who have edited the intro in recent days. My motive in this recent spate of edits was to clarify some poor English, not to add to the intro length. My edits have been followed in at least a couple of cases by redits which have reintroduced odd English. The insistence on peculiar English is itself somewhat odd.

A point had been introduced in the intro about the genetic origins of DM, and I simply left it in (with a bit of rephrasing). I'm not entirely certain it belongs in the intro, but it is after all an issue of origin and so has some claim to inclusion in an intro.

Editor JDW has been a long time contributor to this article and has, in every instance of which I'm aware, made reasonable edits which have had at least the effect of stopping lower quality, and most of the time, increasing quality. So the objection about that his edit was based on a private opinion (what others are available in re style, after all?) and that his edit is / was frivolous, is simply not credible.

JDFW's point about the abysmal state of the article is correct. Cruft has been added, bit by bit, for some time. A cruft clearance copy edit is certainly overdue. His point has been made, in one form or another, for a long time (see prior talk archives). One problem with his suggested program for this article is one of coverage and good style. We can have an article of first resort (as this one is) which essentially consists of a series of pointers to subarticles. If so, we will be requiring the Reader to consult many sources to compile a summary account of the disease(s). If so, we editors will have failed in our obligation to provide a summary in this article. The line between enough detail to summarize and too much referral to subarticles is not an easy one, but if it were easy, responsible Misplaced Pages editing would be trivial. ww (talk) 16:00, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Formal logic problems: I wrote "frivolous explanation" (of arbitrary deletion), not "edits" (themselves); official opinions, which do exist beside "a private opinion (what others are available in re style, after all?)", belong to WP:LEAD; the fact that "JDW has been a long time contributor" is irrelevant (see WP:OWN), the "the abysmal state of the article" and "cruft" are not the issue here, but a placement of just 3 words in the lead to make it complete, as WP:LEAD suggests; the rest of the 4th par. is a private opinion, not an argument (e.g. he likes red, and she - blue), and discussing taste is pointless, as already the Romans noticed (de gusibus non est disputandum); and thanks for the style corrections, but I created the compact and logical structure of the lead's 1st par., because... you were not able to do so (162.84.184.38 (talk) 22:56, 6 August 2008 (UTC)).

IMO the content of the introduction as it stands at the moment is about right. The changes I would make are primarily stylistic: Why did we wikilink i.e.? Why are there so many parenthetical comments in the third paragraph? Do you think we need to instruct the reader -- with remarkable imprecision -- that a complication is a side effect? Why not simply link to Complication (medicine)?

Since it's apparently been the source of some contention, I do not think that we need to go into details of cause in the intro for this article, as every subtype has a different cause. MODY should mention its cause in its intro; Diabetes mellitus would have to discuss all the causes for all the types in its intro, and this is too much information for the lead. (Compare the decision you would make for Heart disease.) WhatamIdoing (talk) 18:23, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

It is not about mentioning causes of MODY in the lead, but just its name and 2 other words: MODY (wiki-linked) and monogenic diabetes (with the reference to the NIH's article) to make the intro complete per the WP:LEAD's guidelines. Obviously, parenthetical comments are an indication of deficiency in processing the syntax, which otherwise would require much more effort and maybe capacity; not everyone is a born editor, e.g. my style sucks, but there are many people, who can correct style, and only a few, who can synthesize for it is quite difficult, so "cruft" grows (162.84.184.38 (talk) 22:56, 6 August 2008 (UTC)).

Please, check out the minuscule addition (162.84.184.38 (talk) 23:08, 6 August 2008 (UTC)).

I think we're getting dangerously close to personal comment on other editors here; this would be a good place to chill. As has been pointed out, tastes differ (and consensus is the standard under that rubric), and no one owns an article, including this one. All edits are subject to ruthless revision per WP policy. Doffed defense of particualar phrases is out of place accordingly. ww (talk) 23:49, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

No, we are not (do not take it personally), and we have a good lead thanks to the common and constructive contributions unlike the discussion, which seemed to be a waste of time and effort, so making it aggressive shortened such waste; very often editing Misplaced Pages is a compensation for missing parts of life and once 6 such "nice" persons lacking advanced skills (maybe high school students) asked a 12 year old administrator to protect an article for 2 weeks under a pretext of a vandalism constituted by mere 2 meaningless pranks, and he did it closing the article for 2 advanced editors, but it took a complaint to a senior administrator to bring them to order and to remove the protection, because WP: CONSENSUS in not necessarily a result of a democratic vote or - in other words - a majority is not necessarily right; I am not going to edit anymore, because my objective was just to add monogenic diabetes and MODY, and fixing the lead just happened by chance; I did not want to add them to a badly written paragraph full of logical mistakes, so we fixed it; good luck fellows (162.84.184.38 (talk) 03:36, 7 August 2008 (UTC)).

I've checked out the "miniscule addition" and I think it unnecessary promotion of a rare form. WhatamIdoing (talk) 05:02, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

162.84, I looked at your new version and while I appreciate your attempts to shorten it, this still smacks of WP:WEIGHT in the sense that it still places undue weight on a single type of non-1 non-2 diabetes. You also added it in a place where it is completely out of context (unless the symptoms of MODY are radically different from other forms of diabetes, which they are not).

It's a shame that you have chosen to bid us goodbye, because I'd prefer to settle this pleasantly. Generally, there is no need to use boldface (it is interpreted as shouting). Also, making random jibes at other editors for not having "advanced skills" will not endear you to anyone. JFW | T@lk 05:46, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

This is not a popularity contest, the monogenic diabetes and MODY sentence was placed properly just after 3 most popular types, as monogenic diabetes is the fourth most popular one, and your fifth abrupt and destructive deletion (06:08, 3 August 2008; 07:24, 5 August 2008; 15:40, 5 August 2008; 06:17, 6 August 2008; 05:36, 7 August 2008) does NOT support your good-faith claim "I'd prefer to settle this pleasantly" (you declare one and do the opposite); a resolution request at Administrators' noticeboard. (162.84.184.38 (talk) 15:35, 7 August 2008 (UTC))

JFW has provided a more than reasonable explanation of his reverts. Please be kind enough to review them before reinstating the information. It is not him reverting your edits which is the problem, it is you readding the information before consensus from other editors has been sought after. —Cyclonenim 17:41, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

His explanation is not humanitarian, but arbitrary and inconsistent, because who said that you list only 3 most popular types, and not four, please? If only 3, then why already 6 acute signs of diabetes are listed in the 1st paragraph, please? They are also not equally popular!

Monogenic diabetes constitutes 1-5% of all diabetes (]) 18 M cases in US; see ] (230 M worldwide; see ]), so - 180,000-900,000 cases in US (2.3-11.5 M worldwide), and he claims that it does not deserve a mention in the lead. So, how many millions of cases are needed for it to deserve the lead, please? The number is rapidly rising, and it may be appropriate let say in 2011 or 2013!!! Like to play God: you are good, and you are not good enough, please? 162.84.184.38 (talk) 21:18, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

It is indeed not a popularity contest, but if you repeatedly assume bad faith, make incivil comments or edit disruptively you are unlikely to achieve your desired outcome.

MODY is rare. So are numerous other forms of non-1 non-2 diabetes. If we were to devote space to these forms in the lead, we would have to cover all of them, thereby exceeding the reasonable length for the intro. JFW | T@lk 19:04, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

All three your accusations are false!

The lead after years of editing and before my first 00:12, 29 July 2008 contribution was a disgrace full of repetitions and logical errors. The 1st paragraph now is more meaningful than the previously two. Every my edit was constructive and accommodative to edits by the others. There was not a single deletion. How does it qualify as assuming bad faith (WP:AGF) by me, please?

Your argument of me making incivil comments (WP:CIVIL) contradicts your initial statistical reason: "this still smacks of WP:WEIGHT". That WP:CIVIL argument means that your application of WP:WEIGHT was NOT based on merit, but depended on the tone of my comments. In other words, by listing WP:CIVIL among arguments in support of your position for WP:WEIGHT, you admit that my comments (and not merit) influenced your consideration of WP:WEIGHT, so your editing is about you, and not Misplaced Pages, which is not considered a social club by everyone!

As far as the third argument, would you give one example of my disruptive edit of diabetes, just one, please. 162.84.184.38 (talk) 21:18, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Characterizing other editors positions as accusations is not helpful. We are enjoined here to assume good faith, if not to agree on every point. Further, a demand to demonstrate in detail how the supposed accusation is justified is, essentially, an invitation to detailed dispute. We are enjoined to find consensus by WP policy.

The situation here can be summarized as an idea that MODY and its genetic difference from more common forms of DM should be in the introductory lead in. Opposition to that position notes that MODY is only one of a number of rare varieties of diabetes, even of dibetes mellitus and that as such it doesn't justify such special treatment. Such a difference of view certainly doesn't justify claims of accusations and demands the accusations be demonstrated in even one detail.

"Loaded words" aren't helpful in discussions of how to improve any article, much less one which is as important to so many people as this one. Everyone should take a deep cleansing breath... 67.86.173.246 (talk) 17:19, 10 August 2008 (UTC) oops, this was actually me and WP helpfully had logged me out it seems sorry I didn't notice it before. ww (talk) 00:03, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Sorry 67.86.173.246, but the facts do not support the premise of the summary above, and with a false premise, the conclusion not credible. The key is an actual frequency represented by hard numbers, and not a feeling of commonality.

Monogenic forms (or "MDM"), constituted by frequency almost entirely by MODY and accounting for 1-5 % of all DM, are in comparison to the 3 most popular forms (type 1, 2, and gestational), or "PDM", less frequent by an order of magnitude, at 1 %, and up to the same order of magnitude at 5 %. So they cannot be called "rare", which means "not frequently encountered; scarce; unusual" or "uncommon, i.e. singular, extraordinary". The hard numbers, as quoted and argued in ]), illustrate it:

"Monogenic diabetes constitutes 1-5% of all diabetes (]) 18 M cases in US; see ] (230 M worldwide; see ]), so - 180,000-900,000 cases in US (2.3-11.5 M worldwide). If not included in the lead, how those hundreds to millions of people will find its existence otherwise, please? Just one little sentence reading "Less common (1-5 %) are monogenic forms of diabetes, e.g. MODY.". Why from 180,000 people with monogenic diabetes in US to 11.5 M worldwide have to be discriminated against in easy access to a basic info in Misplaced Pages, because a few people selected such fate for them (not popular enough), please? Is the eugenics back or worse?"

The second argument, even more important, is that MDM are grossly "under-diagnosed" causing also a false impression of their (un)commonality. Many, if not most, physicians are not able to distinguish MDM from PMD, so they may falsely claim that MDM are rare. Because of prevailing misdiagnosing in from hundreds of thousands to millions of cases, MDM and MODY belongs to the intro to make people aware of their existence and to give them a chance to inquire.

On the other hand, all other forms of diabetes are actually rare, i.e. less frequent than the most common PMD by approx. two orders of magnitude, and - so - they really do NOT belong to the WP:LEAD. 162.84.184.38 (talk) 19:52, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

The point I was making had to do with tone, not facts. Granted all of the facts you cite re MODY frequency as compared to others types, there is still an issue with the intro. Stylistically, it's not possible to include even brief mention of all aspects of DM. Consensus has established the intro you came to, and your edits to it have not won consensus on mostly stylistic grounds. I'd like to see the reference you cite mentioned in the body of the article where less common types are covered, though. ww (talk) 00:03, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

You practically admitted that you are wrong! The WP:LEAD says:

"The lead serves both as an introduction to the article below and as a short, independent summary of the important aspects of the article's topic. The lead should be able to stand alone as a concise overview of the article."

I have proven statistically, numerically, and on the humanitarian ground (see my second argument above) that mentioning monogenic forms (MDM), incl. MODY, in just one short sentence belongs to the intro, because it meets the criterion of important aspects required by WP:LEAD, and also the criterion of allowing the lead to be a complete overview (stand alone), because without MDM other forms are NOT represented in the lead, and they are a significant part of the article.

On the other hand, your stylistic argument, contrary to mine, has NO base in the principals of WP:LEAD what so ever, because it is purely esthetic and emotional, though popular!!! Please, note, that WP:CONSENSUS is NOT WP:POLLING, and that logic is, what matters, and not popularity! 162.84.184.38 (talk) 18:19, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Practically isn't the same as actually. And in any case, this is not about the 'facts'. It's about the style of the intro section in light of multiple WP policies admonitions, all of which is to be settled by consensus per WP policy. You have mis taken my comments here and hared off on a wild goose chase. Please reread them and consider that I was talking about something other than your interpretation. In the meantime, I've reverted again, as it seems to me beyond clear that consensus had been reached on this point (see the discussion above, if you will). ww (talk) 20:49, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

(1) You have missed that I also corrected a serious logical error in the intro (see );

(2) There is no substance in your above argument full of the indeterminate forms: a style, policies, admonitions, all of which, per a policy, a wild goose chase, something other, this point;

(3) "Practically" means "for all practical purposes; in effect; virtually" and is an equivalent to "actually"; the way you wrote above indicates carelessness or serious problems with English and/or formal logic; please, treat the discussion seriously!

(4) Your revert again, without a serious consideration of my correction of the logical error, may be close to vandalism, because WP:CONSENSUS (please, read there) is not a popularity contest, and formal logic takes president over a point of view of a majority; 162.84.184.38 (talk) 14:13, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

162.84..., This long siege has degenerated to the extent that it requires external intervention.

I have accordingly requested such. ww (talk) 16:20, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Could I encourage 162.84.184.38 not to make any further edits to the lead until the mediation is underway? The case is at Misplaced Pages:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2008-09-08 Diabetes mellitus. To remain with the issues: current statistics show that MODY and other monogenic forms of diabetes are rare. Therefore, to emphasise them against the must more common forms of diabetes amounts to overemphasis. That has nothing to do with discrimination, and inflammatory language (as well as boldface and endless lawyering of policies) is unhelpful. You have been encouraged to make contributions to the article body, where there is plenty more scope for discussing the rarer types of diabetes, all of which are encyclopedic and need to be mentioned in full detail - especially if the diagnosis or treatment is radically different from the usual forms. JFW | T@lk 20:35, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Not true: (1)"Monogenic diabetes constitutes 1-5% of all diabetes (]) 18 M cases in US; see ] (230 M worldwide; see ]), so - 180,000-900,000 cases in US (2.3-11.5 M worldwide)."

and

(2) Because the WP:LEAD says:

"The lead serves both as an introduction to the article below and as a short, independent summary of the important aspects of the article's topic. The lead should be able to stand alone as a concise overview of the article."

so I have proven statistically, numerically, and on the humanitarian ground (see my second argument above) that mentioning monogenic forms (MDM), incl. MODY, in just one short sentence belongs to the intro, because it meets the criterion of important aspects required by WP:LEAD, and also the criterion of allowing the lead to be a complete overview (stand alone), because, without MDM, other forms are NOT represented in the lead, but they are a significant part of the article.

(3) The sentence "The two most common forms of diabetes are due to either a diminished production of insulin..." illogically introduces arbitrary and unnecessary "forms", when it actually refers there to the two main causes, etc. 162.84.184.38 (talk) 03:39, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

I will not respond to your arguments here, because the case has been referred for mediation. JFW | T@lk 18:48, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

But, your 8 September 2008] reversal - of my correction in WP:CONSENSUS ("the logic may outweigh the logic" screemed false, because nothing can outweigh itself; see the discussion) - summarized by your insinuation, that the revision by me was "used for wikilawyering on Talk:Diabetes mellitus", seems to be a bit too much. 162.84.184.38 (talk) 19:36, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

...and Misplaced Pages:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2008-09-08 Diabetes mellitus seems to be a good idea; thanks! 162.84.184.38 (talk) 19:44, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

Will you please stop reverting to your version, which has no support at present, until the mediation case is completed? I face the decision of asking for the page to be protected or asking an administrator to consider blocking your access to Misplaced Pages. JFW | T@lk 20:15, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

multiple edit revert this date

I have just reverted multiple edits by an anon poster, all of them based on claims that Type 2 is curable (80% was the citation) by special diets. In addition, the edits also deleted useful content. As they were not discussed here, and were a kind of POV in any case, I judged deletion was indicated.

Since the reversion didn't preserve my edit summary, I thought it useful to explain here.

Anon poster, if you would like to include those claims, please source them and include them in the cure for Type 2 section along with the bariatric surgery which has recently made such a splash. Otherwise, I suspect your edits will be found POV in future as well. ww (talk) 19:06, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

archiving clashes with mediation

This article has been referred to the Mediation Cabal (see tag at the top of this page), and just as that happened, Coro did one of his period archive sweeps of this page. This has changed the easily available e record of this page to the inconvenience of the Mediation process. Coro has been requested to unarchive for the duration of the mediation.

Mediators, please stand by... ww (talk) 16:45, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

The archived discussions for the end of 2007 have been restored to the top of the page for easy re-archival. --Coro (talk) 21:33, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

MEDCAB mediator

Hi all! :-) Can all parties please give me a quick version of their view of the matter? Please keep to less than 400 words if you can (each). Thanks! Fr33kman 04:47, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

MEDCAB

I am sorry but due to personal events I have to leave for a short while. I have relisted the case on MEDCAB. Thanks and Good Luck! :-) Fr33kman 01:29, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Hypertension

In DM1, poor glycaemic control is associated with an elevated risk of hypertension, again confirming the role of insulin in blood pressure regulation. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/168/17/1867 JFW | T@lk 20:55, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

MEDCAB (2nd go)

Hello all! I a going to retake this case (if that is acceptable to everyone). I need a quick overview of the dispute in order to understand it better. Could each person involved please fill in their view (less than 250 words) in the relevant section below. Please do not respond to or edit another editor's response. There will be ample opportunity to discuss this, I just need to know each editors position. You can be technical in this mediation, I am a medical student. Thank you - fr33kman -s- 22:08, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Editor 1

See Misplaced Pages:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2008-09-08 Diabetes mellitus for my account of the business which has gottne us here. In the period since submission to Med Cab, the back and forthing has subsided. Perhaps it will not resume? ww (talk) 18:40, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Should we close the case, and open it again if needed? fr33kman -s- 20:06, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

In my opinion, no. There were several instances after I thought consensus reached, but was disabused of my optimism in short order. Let's carry the process through, now that you're back on the case. My pious hopes for settlement shouldn't influence anybody; my delusions are my own, not to be taken seriously. Welcome back, incidentally. ww (talk) 21:21, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Editor 2

The following changes (also just added to the lead) have been opposed without a cause. The 3rd sentence of the lead:

The two most common forms of diabetes are due to either a diminished production of insulin (in type 1), or diminished response by the body to insulin (in type 2 and gestational).

is faulty, because it unnecessarily refers to types of diabetes (1 & 2) as forms, which they are not; they are types, as their names indicate it. So it was replaced by the following sentence avoiding the word "forms" and saying practically the same:

Diabetes develops due to a diminished production of insulin (in type 1) and resistance to its effects (in type 2 and gestational).

The 4th sentence remained unchanged.

The 5th sentence:

Monogenic forms, e.g. MODY, constitute 1-5 % of all cases.

was added, because:

(1)"Monogenic diabetes ("MDM") constitutes 1-5% of all diabetes (]) 18 M cases in US; see ] (230 M worldwide; see ]), so - 180,000-900,000 cases in US (2.3-11.5 M worldwide)."

and

(2) MDM are grossly "under-diagnosed" causing also a false impression of their (un)commonality. Many, if not most, physicians are not able to distinguish MDM from type 1 or 2, so they may falsely claim that MDM are rare. Because of prevailing misdiagnosing in from hundreds of thousands to millions of cases, MDM and MODY belongs to the intro to make people aware of their existence and to give them a chance to inquire.

and

(3) The WP:LEAD requires:

"The lead serves both as an introduction to the article below and as a short, independent summary of the important aspects of the article's topic. The lead should be able to stand alone as a concise overview of the article."

and it has been proven statistically, numerically, and on the humanitarian ground (see the 2nd argument) that mentioning monogenic forms ("MDM"), incl. MODY, in just one short sentence belongs to the intro, because it meets the criterion of important aspects required by WP:LEAD, and also the criterion of allowing the lead to be a complete overview (stand alone), because, without MDM, other forms are NOT represented in the lead, but they are a significant part (a chapter) of the article.

My 162.84.184.38 (talk) ID changed to 71.247.12.83 (talk) 08:30, 2 October 2008 (UTC).

Editor 3

Editor 4

Editor ...

Thank you in advance! :-) fr33kman -s- 22:08, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Mediator

I think that the lead section should contain any form of DM that affects at least 2% of the population of patients. 2% (indeed less) is a medically significant figure (if 2% of patients a surgeon . If this were an article about religion in Unnameistan then a 2% population of adherents to a minority religion might not qualify for inclusion in the lead, but it's not; it's about a medical condition. The various type should be called "types" and not forms. The reason for this is that this is an encyclopaedia, the reader is what matters, not the editors! We (experts) don't write Misplaced Pages for our own use, we write it for the layperson. This article must be understandable by the non-expert reader. Experts shouldn't be coming to Misplaced Pages for sources: frankly it would be professionally weak to do so and no peer reviewer would look kindly on a researcher using a Misplaced Pages article as "evidence" in any publication of note (indeed at my university, citing Misplaced Pages is an automatic failure for any piece of work submitted to med-school!). This place is for the high-school student, the worried new patient, the news reporter looking for a quick snippet to include in an article: the layperson. As such, we have to keep it understandable by that audience. Also, the only mention of a cure should be surgical (although endocrinologists and other physicians would not call such a cure per se, but a surgeon would ). Any true, medical, cure for DM would need to be peer reviewed and would earn the discoverer a Nobel prize and would be so widely reported in the lay-press that there would be no question here as to its validity! Comments? fr33kman -s- 15:52, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

I'd also ask if people are ready to propose compromises? fr33kman -s- 17:55, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

• Thanks ...man for the clarification, which is exactly, what I have been suggesting for months; monogenic forms constituting 1-5 % of DM (average = 2.5 % per the best estimation from NIH) seem to pass the min. 2 % criterion, and nothing rearer. I hope, the little sentence will not be removed again. 71.247.12.83 (talk) 21:44, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

Re cure: there is a long discussion on exactly this point in the talk above. Clearly there are different views (even among the medical folk contributing) regarding the exact definition.

Re form v type: pretty much a distinction without a difference in this context. Plato's not involved after all, and we're using English, a language in which there are multitudes of synonyms or near synonyms. And in a non technical article not meant for professionals perhaps it's being too over careful.

Re compromise. I personally have little trouble with whatever style derision on this point is established by consensus amongst editors. I may disagree, but my opinion is not determinative. In this case, there being on the order of 50 sorts of diabetes and many sorts of DM, it's not clear where the line should be drawn in the lead. I think, attempting to speak on behalf of our Average Reader, that the lead should definitely be about establishing that DM is not just one thing, that the dominant type/form is <xx> (and maybe the second most common too as reinforcing the pint about non singularity), but no further, as it is the 'lead' not the body. But without consensus, WP policy does not favor campaigning for content or style consensus has deemed inappropriate. Hence this mediation, no?

Sorry to hear about your med school's policy re WP. Surely there's something here an embryo doc can usefully learn from!

Re technical language surplusage. Yes I agree, Each of the diabetes articles I partol has been becoming more and more specialized -- partly I suspect due to fear of fact tag bombing -- and so less readable to our target audience, the average Reader. Without personally rewriting them every so often, I don't see a good way out of this trend. All articles should, of course, regardless of the high (or lower) proportion of technical terms, be accurate. This requires a general quality of prose not usually available in the technical fields (would that all were as scintillating as Lewis Thoms or Peter Medawar! Als, not likely.) and hard to find on WP after edits from all against whatever might have been present at one time. ww (talk) 17:53, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

Of course it's semantics regarding "type" versus "form", but again, I feel that the reader is the important person here. They will be more familiar with the term "type" as this is what most clinicians will refer to them as. Cure, there will always be controversy on that term (for all diseases, not just DM); but again it's the reader that's important. The term "cure implies (rather strongly in an encyclopaedia) that the disease is curable (as in "I don't have it any more and have no symptoms or treatment at all; ie: it's gone!") Regarding the lead, it should be a stand-alone mini-version of the article (as much as is practicable) and I do think that any type that has a significant number of patients should be listed: very rare types should probably be left for the article with a pointer in the lead such as; "Although there are many types of DM but the most common forms are ...