Tuesday February 6th.
Just as a little addendum:
I've just had the much-anticipated visit to my unsupportive GP who was indeed surprised, not to say greatly thrown off balance by my request for a reduction in medication - that just doesn't happen. He noticed my weight loss but he started by saying that 800 kcals is not enough and I should have at least 1500, around 50% carbohydrates, plenty of fruit and follow a slow, gently diet with plenty of exercise, the usual mainstream message. But I'd written up a summary of my trial of the ND with the blood levels, medication and weight, and I asked him why he thought the levels dropped to normal within a few days. He had no idea and was genuinely surprised. It was a useful way to get him to take the ND seriously and fair play, he did then. I'd translated some material for him and also found a Medscape article from 2016 in Spanish and I also left him a brief summary of my experiences, including my mistaken reduction in meds and its correction. He insisted on checking my blood pressure, which is now lower than the last time he checked - I've no idea what it is, he didn't tell me and I forgot to ask, what with all the fun. I think he will take the ND seriously though he did insist that his patients wouldn't be able to follow it - I argued that they should have the option and at least know about it. My (somewhat cynical) guess is that he'll think about it a bit but will continue with the routine advice of eat less, exercise more. He is, after all, expected and required to issue the standard advice. I'll have a blood test in a couple of months and work on him a bit more then... I think I'm probably the first patient he's had who has long-term diabetes and has managed to reduce their meds. Hopefully in time, there'll be a lot more. (Oh and I hit the weight target - now 95.8kg and dropping)
Just as a little addendum:
I've just had the much-anticipated visit to my unsupportive GP who was indeed surprised, not to say greatly thrown off balance by my request for a reduction in medication - that just doesn't happen. He noticed my weight loss but he started by saying that 800 kcals is not enough and I should have at least 1500, around 50% carbohydrates, plenty of fruit and follow a slow, gently diet with plenty of exercise, the usual mainstream message. But I'd written up a summary of my trial of the ND with the blood levels, medication and weight, and I asked him why he thought the levels dropped to normal within a few days. He had no idea and was genuinely surprised. It was a useful way to get him to take the ND seriously and fair play, he did then. I'd translated some material for him and also found a Medscape article from 2016 in Spanish and I also left him a brief summary of my experiences, including my mistaken reduction in meds and its correction. He insisted on checking my blood pressure, which is now lower than the last time he checked - I've no idea what it is, he didn't tell me and I forgot to ask, what with all the fun. I think he will take the ND seriously though he did insist that his patients wouldn't be able to follow it - I argued that they should have the option and at least know about it. My (somewhat cynical) guess is that he'll think about it a bit but will continue with the routine advice of eat less, exercise more. He is, after all, expected and required to issue the standard advice. I'll have a blood test in a couple of months and work on him a bit more then... I think I'm probably the first patient he's had who has long-term diabetes and has managed to reduce their meds. Hopefully in time, there'll be a lot more. (Oh and I hit the weight target - now 95.8kg and dropping)