An injection of positivity not negativity. In the past the results were indeed dire. Not now.
Following last night's Panorama programme, I think we may get new forum members and readers, and I wanted to reassure them that being a Type 2 diabetic does NOT automatically lead to horrendous complications, amputations, misery, trauma and aggressive invasive surgery. There is a huge amount we can do to control the condition and reduce our chances of diabetic complications.
We have a whole thread of the most wonderful success stories to prove it.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/low-carb-success-stories.3763/
it is currently running at 24 pages of posts from people who feel a darn sight better than those shown on Panorama!
As far as I can see, that programme was designed to shock and frighten, count the cost to the NHS and attempt to drive people into weight loss and surgery to save bankrupting the NHS.
Well, there are alternatives, and believe me when I say that they work amazingly well.
Type 2s can improve their health by
- lowering their blood glucose (diet, exercise, medication, fasting)
- careful use of medication (there is a whole range of meds from Meformin up to Insulin)
- monitoring their blood glucose on a daily basis, at home, allowing them to work out which foods are driving their blood glucose up, and teaching them how to reduce portions or avoid that food completely, in order to bring their blood glucose down to target.
Type 2s CAN change their eating habits and lead a much healthier and happier life - but it requires a change of diet and lifestyle. Personally, I would rather give up wheatabix and frosties and milk chocolate than lose my legs.
Here are a few links that may help:
This link explains in under a minute, the way to reduce carbs but still eat an enjoyable and satisfying diet.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds
It is known as the LCHF way of eating
For people who want a more structured, gradual approach, there is a Low Carb Programme run by diabetes.co.uk which shows you how to lower your carb intake over a 10 week period and tailor you diet to suit you personally.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/lowcarb/
Some people are finding that they can actually REVERSE their type 2 diabetes using Low Carbing or very low calorie diets such as the Newcastle Diet (800 calories a day for 8 weeks), because it reduces the fat in their liver, allowing it and the pancreas to function better, and produce enough insulin to control blood glucose again.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/03March/Pages/Could-a-very-low-calorie-diet-cure-type-2-diabetes.aspx
you may also have heard of the 800 calorie Bloodsugar Diet. This is similar to the Newcastle Diet but uses real food instead of diet shakes
https://thebloodsugardiet.com/
Some people are finding that missing meals (known as Intermittent Fasting) is lowering blood glucose and insulin resistance and helping with weight loss.
You can find out more here:
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/
Exercise can also be remarkably effective, but I haven't focussed on it, because many type 2s feel too drained and tired to exercise, until they get their blood glucose down to a good level. At that point, go for it!
ALL of the above are FREE
Monitoring your own blood glucose can be done at home, at a reasonable personal cost. It will tell you how well you are managing your type 2 diabetes, and give you very important information on what foods are driving it up. This is known as Eating To Your Meter, and is, in my opinion, the single most powerful tool in the type 2 toolbox. Most doctors refuse to supply type 2s with a blood glucose meter saying it isn't appropriate. The real reason is cost to the NHS. So many of us buy our own. There are many different meters, but many of us here on the forum go for the SD Codefree since you can get a pot of 50 test strips for about £7, which I consider a bargain. ( I won't include a link, because I don't want to look like I am promoting a particular brand, but shop around before you buy - there are some very expensive ones out there if you are not careful and you need to bear in mind repeat costs when you buy more test strips)
Forum members can offer plenty of help and support on all of these diets, testing, and type 2 management. Just ask.
Let's camp up at the hospitals/doctors or do an educational video on you.tube which we insist is played for new and old diagnosed diabetics after their hospital/ doctors appointments. My gp has an educational plasma screen about smoking etc. Replaying over and over again. Even a cheap power point presentation would be a start. Come on nhs. Do something positive and useful.
Very helpful, informative post.Following last night's Panorama programme, I think we may get new forum members and readers, and I wanted to reassure them that being a Type 2 diabetic does NOT automatically lead to horrendous complications, amputations, misery, trauma and aggressive invasive surgery. There is a huge amount we can do to control the condition and reduce our chances of diabetic complications.
We have a whole thread of the most wonderful success stories to prove it.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/low-carb-success-stories.3763/
it is currently running at 24 pages of posts from people who feel a darn sight better than those shown on Panorama!
As far as I can see, that programme was designed to shock and frighten, count the cost to the NHS and attempt to drive people into weight loss and surgery to save bankrupting the NHS.
Well, there are alternatives, and believe me when I say that they work amazingly well.
Type 2s can improve their health by
- lowering their blood glucose (diet, exercise, medication, fasting)
- careful use of medication (there is a whole range of meds from Meformin up to Insulin)
- monitoring their blood glucose on a daily basis, at home, allowing them to work out which foods are driving their blood glucose up, and teaching them how to reduce portions or avoid that food completely, in order to bring their blood glucose down to target.
Type 2s CAN change their eating habits and lead a much healthier and happier life - but it requires a change of diet and lifestyle. Personally, I would rather give up wheatabix and frosties and milk chocolate than lose my legs.
Here are a few links that may help:
This link explains in under a minute, the way to reduce carbs but still eat an enjoyable and satisfying diet.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds
It is known as the LCHF way of eating
For people who want a more structured, gradual approach, there is a Low Carb Programme run by diabetes.co.uk which shows you how to lower your carb intake over a 10 week period and tailor you diet to suit you personally.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/lowcarb/
Some people are finding that they can actually REVERSE their type 2 diabetes using Low Carbing or very low calorie diets such as the Newcastle Diet (800 calories a day for 8 weeks), because it reduces the fat in their liver, allowing it and the pancreas to function better, and produce enough insulin to control blood glucose again.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/03March/Pages/Could-a-very-low-calorie-diet-cure-type-2-diabetes.aspx
you may also have heard of the 800 calorie Bloodsugar Diet. This is similar to the Newcastle Diet but uses real food instead of diet shakes
https://thebloodsugardiet.com/
Some people are finding that missing meals (known as Intermittent Fasting) is lowering blood glucose and insulin resistance and helping with weight loss.
You can find out more here:
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/
Exercise can also be remarkably effective, but I haven't focussed on it, because many type 2s feel too drained and tired to exercise, until they get their blood glucose down to a good level. At that point, go for it!
ALL of the above are FREE
Monitoring your own blood glucose can be done at home, at a reasonable personal cost. It will tell you how well you are managing your type 2 diabetes, and give you very important information on what foods are driving it up. This is known as Eating To Your Meter, and is, in my opinion, the single most powerful tool in the type 2 toolbox. Most doctors refuse to supply type 2s with a blood glucose meter saying it isn't appropriate. The real reason is cost to the NHS. So many of us buy our own. There are many different meters, but many of us here on the forum go for the SD Codefree since you can get a pot of 50 test strips for about £7, which I consider a bargain. ( I won't include a link, because I don't want to look like I am promoting a particular brand, but shop around before you buy - there are some very expensive ones out there if you are not careful and you need to bear in mind repeat costs when you buy more test strips)
Forum members can offer plenty of help and support on all of these diets, testing, and type 2 management. Just ask.
I can only part agree with what you say here. What I find so sad about the program is that it only has one conclusion that they make, and that is that only surgery can cure T2D, and that they recommend that all T2's be given bariatric surgery to prolomg life with this self induced disease. I believe they are wrong to make this conclusion. They closed the door on any alternative therapies, and left viewers with no support path except hospital, So your suggestion that the average viewer can seek alternatives was not provided, and this left a totally negative thought progression in our minds. This is where the program was irresponsible.
