I just had a phone call...

[Antje77]

I'm getting a few emails from some of the people on the conference call asking for clarification of some bits and even from people that didn't participate but have listened to the tape of it. *

Wow, so they not only listened but payed attention as well, and are willing to spend time doing more research for themselves, as proven by them emailing you!
As you mentioned this forum to them I think it may be very well possible we've got some new lurkers on the forum

So just in case Chooks GP, DN and other participants in the conference call found this thread, hello there and welcome. Have a good look around on the forum!

 

[Norfolkmell]

Well done @Chook,!! You have all my admiration I could never have managed a conference call.
I'm lucky that I have a very good GP who told me to LCHF from diagnosis and has been very supportive and has issued lancets and test strips without query. I'm about to move to coastal Norfolk and am worried that my new GP might not be so enlightened but with the help of your post and all the others on this thread I've got lots of information to give them references to.
Thank you

 

[Goonergal]

Well, that was interesting. It seems like my GP practice is moving on from the Dark Ages. The reason for yesterday's phone call was the new DN was being brought up to speed by my GP (the same one who three years ago called my proposed low carb diet 'a hippy, dippy diet' that he couldn't recommend or support me on). As they were going through all the T2s discussing meds, courses, other treatments, apparently my records stood out as being completely different because of my HbA1C being at non diabetic levels and, on looking in more detail they found that I haven't had a prescription for insulin for nearly three years yet I'm still getting the strips.

One funny bit, I know their record keeping is a bit haphazard but they thought I must have had some sort of bariatric surgery that they didn't know about.

So the phone call yesterday was to find out EXACTLY what I'm doing. The reviews with the DNs don't include a tick box answer for discussing controlling with a low carb diet and even though it has been discussed at every review it hasn't been noted and that's why I'm still shown as insulin dependant. And that's why I still get the strips. I did get a sort of apology for yesterday because the DN had passed on that the doctor may have been a bit harsh (!) and maybe hadn't explained fully the reason they were calling..

All the people in on todays conference call introduced themselves (eight of them) but only one asked questions which the others had given to him in advance. What they really wanted was to know what made me take this option, how long it took, what support I had at the beginningand what my diet and life is like on a daily basis.

Brilliant @Chook glad it went well and that the surgery are taking note and wanting to learn. Great stuff!

 

[Stephen Lewis]

What is very ironic and from a happy view point is very amusing is that once diagnosed we are generally left on our own to work things out. Then when we do the medical professionals get very upset because we have improved our condition often without their help or advice and they don't want to listen to anything they have not learned in med. school. Not surprising since the so-called specialist who put me on insulin was actually an associate professor in endocrinology at a med. school. His last words to me, after a very rapid increase in my insulin dose, were, "I can't do anything more for you. You are on your own."! 8 months later I stopped taking insulin with no help from anyone except this forum and my own research. These resulted in a low carb diet, weightlifting, lots of walking and prayer at Church. It's good to know that we are not on our own and that we can improve our condition even if we are incurable...or are we?

 

[1spuds]

8 months later I stopped taking insulin with no help from anyone except this forum and my own research.

THAT is the answer,well done !!!!!

 

[lucylocket61]

well done @Chook Inspirational! I will keep persevering slowly with my DN about fats not being Evil and diabetes not having to be always progressive. She has made big strides in the three years since we first met.

 

[slip]

@Chook (I'll probably get moderated) but ****** well done!

Edited by mod for profanity. You were correct!

 

[Member496333]

In my world it would be,what an achievement! Lives may have been saved,quality of life for many may now be improved.What a win!!

Absolutely, I agree. Didn’t mean to take anything away from the achievement. I just find it amusing that a medical person would be so shocked by this. The path to recovery must be learned, in the same way as “medical people” learn what drugs to prescribe at medical school. They are not intellectually superior by default. It’s not like finding a cure for cancer. I’d wager that most well informed diabetics on here, for example, know a little more about diabetes management than their genius doctors.

Just saying

 

[Tophat1900]

Fantastic out come, best thing I've read in quite a long time.

It is amazing how in the dark some medical professionals can be and how inflexible and unwilling to change the profession can be. I don't think some like it when a patient knows more then they do and can treat a condition far more effectively then the standard approach of just treat the symptoms as it currently is for T2.

Well done, that's a lot of stress to deal with. And it seems at least some at the practice are interested because of your success. Results speak volumes. Unlike the doctor who wouldn't even support you on your approach, must be a tough day for him wiping all the egg off his face. Lets hope he changes his opinion.

 

[CondorX]

That's a great result!! I find it quite difficult to to engage in discussions with some of my more rigid colleagues at times - sadly, so many GP's and DN's seem not to have moved on from what they learned years ago at med / nursing school. When I was at Med school in the 70's, it was all the old avoid sugar and fats and buy "diabetic" foods / chocolate etc - nothing could have been more wrong. Much admiration to the many type 1's who survived despite this and are still going strong today!!!
My own GP has just left me to flounder on with a "well come back in 3 months and let's see" when I declined meds and statins........

 

[AliciaWarren]

Great thread. Needs a new title to summarise what it's about, so more people read how Chook dealt with this challenge. Big congrats to Chook for a great win teaching her practice that low carbing can reverse T2. You are an effective influencer! Don't be too hard on the doctors and nurses. It's hard to unlearn what you have learned. They are only human. It's scary because they have so much power to prescribe or withhold meds. Nothing like shopping around for a doctor with an open mind and a good attitude.

 

[Freema]

Well, that was interesting. It seems like my GP practice is moving on from the Dark Ages. The reason for yesterday's phone call was the new DN was being brought up to speed by my GP (the same one who three years ago called my proposed low carb diet 'a hippy, dippy diet' that he couldn't recommend or support me on). As they were going through all the T2s discussing meds, courses, other treatments, apparently my records stood out as being completely different because of my HbA1C being at non diabetic levels and, on looking in more detail they found that I haven't had a prescription for insulin for nearly three years yet I'm still getting the strips.

One funny bit, I know their record keeping is a bit haphazard but they thought I must have had some sort of bariatric surgery that they didn't know about.

So the phone call yesterday was to find out EXACTLY what I'm doing. The reviews with the DNs don't include a tick box answer for discussing controlling with a low carb diet and even though it has been discussed at every review it hasn't been noted and that's why I'm still shown as insulin dependant. And that's why I still get the strips. I did get a sort of apology for yesterday because the DN had passed on that the doctor may have been a bit harsh (!) and maybe hadn't explained fully the reason they were calling..

All the people in on todays conference call introduced themselves (eight of them) but only one asked questions which the others had given to him in advance. What they really wanted was to know what made me take this option, how long it took, what support I had at the beginningand what my diet and life is like on a daily basis.

Wow finally some professionals have a professional interest in real life and solutions

 

[ringi]

@Chook Dr Unwin loves to give talks to groups of HCP hence it will be worth recommending that your GP invites him to a local meating of GPs and practice nurces. He has also released training for GP on low carb diets in diabetes. He can be contect on https://mobile.twitter.com/lowcarbGP also anyone on the NHS email system should be able to find his email address.

 

[DawnOfTheZed]

What is very ironic and from a happy view point is very amusing is that once diagnosed we are generally left on our own to work things out. Then when we do the medical professionals get very upset because we have improved our condition often without their help or advice and they don't want to listen to anything they have not learned in med. school. Not surprising since the so-called specialist who put me on insulin was actually an associate professor in endocrinology at a med. school. His last words to me, after a very rapid increase in my insulin dose, were, "I can't do anything more for you. You are on your own."! 8 months later I stopped taking insulin with no help from anyone except this forum and my own research. These resulted in a low carb diet, weightlifting, lots of walking and prayer at Church. It's good to know that we are not on our own and that we can improve our condition even if we are incurable...or are we?

@Stephen Lewis
Perhaps you could write to the Assoc Prof Endo and offer to help him, given he couldn't help you?

@Chook
Amazing stuff! Well done

 

[Chook]

Just a quick update. I'm now getting emails (well, just two of them) from the diabetes team at the local main hospital. They all seem fascinated by the way we use finger prick blood testing and the various different kinds of fasting.

Favourite stupid question so far: Didn't you get hungry on the five day fast?

 

[Member496333]

Just a quick update. I'm now getting emails (well, just two of them) from the diabetes team at the local main hospital. They all seem fascinated by the way we use finger prick blood testing and the various different kinds of fasting.

Favourite stupid question so far: Didn't you get hungry on the five day fast?

That’s amusing. The fasting question is one thing, but are they having a laugh regarding the self-monitoring?

 

[Chook]

The way I explained it in the conference call is that I use pre-meal finger prick testing to get a snapshot of what my blood is doing and so I know whether to adjust the carbs in my next meal downwards accordingly (or even, if necessary, skip the meal completely) and then I use the 2hr PP test to tell me how the combination of foods I ate -or any new foods - have affected my BG and then I can decide whether it is a meal or food I need to limit or steer clear of in the future.

Whereas they think the strips are prescribed to find out how much insulin to inject or whether to find out if it's necessary to increase the amount of carbs eaten.

Basically, they are saying they think my way of using finger prick tests is novel but effective and very interesting.

 

[Member496333]

Basically, they are saying they think my way of using finger prick tests is novel but effective and very interesting.

I hope you informed them that there are millions of diabetics around the globe using this method of self-monitoring? I’m genuinely surprised that they’re genuinely surprised. I suppose it goes to show just how entrenched the traditional standard of care still is.

 

[Chook]

I hope you informed them that there are millions of diabetics around the globe using this method of self-monitoring? I’m genuinely surprised that they’re genuinely surprised. I suppose it goes to show just how entrenched the traditional standard of care still is.

Yes, I was too. To me it seems pretty obvious but, then, I've not had their kind of training. One big plus is that everyone I've had contact with has been in favour of low carb.