Unbelievable

[Bildad]

Thank you all for your support.
I may contact the surgery on Monday to complain. I collected a complaints form straight after my appointment ended but I was far too angry to confront anyone then.
I will continue eating low carb and checking my sugar as I know what works for me.

 

[JAT1]

I went for my annual disbetes review yesterday with the practice nurse. Last year my hbA1c was 75 this year it is 36. I have lost 3.5 stone and all of my blood work is spot on. I am off my meds (Dapaglaflozin)
I was expecting a pat on the back, my annual tests and a Christmas greeting. What I got was a severe telling off and a warning that my health was at risk because my hbA1c was far too low for a diabetic. I was likely to have a heart attack. I was told to eat "normally" to increase my sugars to anything between 10 and 12 post meal and to get my hbA1c re done in 3 months. I didn't get my feet checked or any of the other checks done.
I know that the NHS is behind Australia and the US in recognising Low Carb but I was stunned by her reaction and advice. No wonder that diabetes is bancrupting the NHS with that sort of advice being handed out.
Needless to say I will not be following her suggestions.

I can most certainly relate. Same thing happened to me. My HBA1C dropped to what my endo considered "too low" 3 months after my diagnostic HBA1C of 17%. She said to eat more carbs and was actually wanting me to take medication to increase my blood sugar !! Fortunately I was already familiar with the advice of Dr. Richard Bernstein and followers, refused her medications (I am already taking insulin and will keep doing so, avoiding developing any insulin resistance) and stuck to my carb-reduced diet. She was so annoyed and wants me to be going to see her every 3 months. I cancelled my appointments for 6 months. I will return, but all the appointments were eating away at the time I'm allowed off my job and reducing the time I have for any vacation. My blood sugars are very steady now, thanks to the diet and the "law of low numbers". I never hypo any more either.

 

[Sarah69]

I recently had my annual review, my hba1c had come down a bit. I didn’t have my feet checked either. I just got results from blood tests. What annoys me is when I got to the diabetic clinic I never see the same dr twice and it makes me wonder if they know what the other is doing. When I went in the summer I was put onto lantus twice a day instead of just once. So the dr I saw asked me why I had been put into 2 injections a day, well how do I know, I just do what they tell me!!!

 

[searley]

When on insulin they expect to see higher readings otherwise you are at risk of a hypo most of the time. But as you say you are off meds so the risk is minimal.

I would say that so long as you are eating enough and not starving yourself all the time. Then as stated above you are in the normal area as far as hba1c goes.

So well done.. pat on the back!!

 

[Flora123]

I went for my annual disbetes review yesterday with the practice nurse. Last year my hbA1c was 75 this year it is 36. I have lost 3.5 stone and all of my blood work is spot on. I am off my meds (Dapaglaflozin)
I was expecting a pat on the back, my annual tests and a Christmas greeting. What I got was a severe telling off and a warning that my health was at risk because my hbA1c was far too low for a diabetic. I was likely to have a heart attack. I was told to eat "normally" to increase my sugars to anything between 10 and 12 post meal and to get my hbA1c re done in 3 months. I didn't get my feet checked or any of the other checks done.
I know that the NHS is behind Australia and the US in recognising Low Carb but I was stunned by her reaction and advice. No wonder that diabetes is bancrupting the NHS with that sort of advice being handed out.
Needless to say I will not be following her suggestions.

That is just crazy. I went from 112 to 36 within three months and maintained for 18 months and was congratulated! I think you need a new doc/DN...

 

[Listlad]

It really does seem a bit of a lottery on T2 advice and support when it comes to visiting our own local NHS surgery’s.

@Bildad BTW I would be interested to hear how you get on with your complaint.

 

[Bildad]

With the rush to Christmas I haven't submitted my complaint yet. I have however received a letter from the doctors to say that they realise I was a bit upset and that they always have the best interests on the patient at the forefront of their actions. Needless to say that didn't do much to help my blood pressure!
I am in the process of replying to each of the points in the letter. I need to get my friend to proof read it and take out the bits that could be classed as too aggressive or taken as threatening.
I will let you know what happens sometime in the new year.
Thanks for your interest.

 

[VashtiB]

I'm glad you are writing a letter and glad that someone else will look at it- I think that being too aggressive may result in them simply being defensive- they clearly realise that they may have overstepped- which is why they have sent their letter- they are possibly (probably) trying to stave off a complaint. They may also have had advice from their professional negligence insurer.

Hopefully this will make them reconsider their advice and maybe undertake some training- you could point them in the right direction.

 

[JayAmerican]

I went for my annual disbetes review yesterday with the practice nurse. Last year my hbA1c was 75 this year it is 36. I have lost 3.5 stone and all of my blood work is spot on. I am off my meds (Dapaglaflozin)
I was expecting a pat on the back, my annual tests and a Christmas greeting. What I got was a severe telling off and a warning that my health was at risk because my hbA1c was far too low for a diabetic. I was likely to have a heart attack. I was told to eat "normally" to increase my sugars to anything between 10 and 12 post meal and to get my hbA1c re done in 3 months. I didn't get my feet checked or any of the other checks done.
I know that the NHS is behind Australia and the US in recognising Low Carb but I was stunned by her reaction and advice. No wonder that diabetes is bancrupting the NHS with that sort of advice being handed out.
Needless to say I will not be following her suggestions.

Wow. I'm starting to not be surprised, though. Here in the US most doctors (who aren't surgeons or ultra-specialized or researchers) who have an office practice where the nurses or assistants do most of the work have a drug-pushing methodology. Partly it's because they get kickbacks from pharmaceuticals for prescribing meds but also because they fear malpractice suits if they don't give by-the-book prescriptions to whatever it is they diagnose.

 

[DJC3]

Congrats on a great HbA1c @Bildad I too was shocked to read your OP and look forward to reading their response to your letter when you’ve sent it.
I must admit I have no time for medical professionals who don’t keep up with their specialism. My GP ( who claimed to be a diabetes specialist) told me it was dangerous for me to cut out carbs and proceeded to tie himself in knots interchanging ketosis and ketoacidosis. (I’m diet controlled T2) I just ignored him for the sake of my blood pressure.
Well done you for achieving such a great result.

 

[Mike Sixx]

hbA1c 36 at risk because my hbA1c was far too low for a diabetic. I was likely to have a heart attack.

Is that really a real thing ? I have never heard normal range (30's range) hbA1C is a bad thing.

(edited by mod for language)

 

[Antje77]

Is that really a real thing ? I have never heard normal range (30's range) hbA1C is a bad thing.

(edited by mod for language)

The belief comes from diabetics on insulin who may have lots of hypo's to come to such a number. It's starting to change a bit now many people use CGM's instead of a couple of fingerpricks. Absolutely nothing to do with T2's on diet only or metformin.

 

[JenniferW]

I went for my annual diabetes review yesterday with the practice nurse. Last year my hbA1c was 75 this year it is 36. I have lost 3.5 stone and all of my blood work is spot on. I am off my meds (Dapaglaflozin)
I was expecting a pat on the back, my annual tests and a Christmas greeting. What I got was a severe telling off and a warning that my health was at risk because my hbA1c was far too low for a diabetic. I was likely to have a heart attack. I was told to eat "normally" to increase my sugars to anything between 10 and 12 post meal and to get my hbA1c re done in 3 months. I didn't get my feet checked or any of the other checks done.

At my GP practice, there have been problems of all sorts with staffing, and it's meant the cover of the diabetic nurse service has ranged from good to dire. But had any of my annual checks given me the feedback and advice that you were given, I'd be going to one of the GPs to report exactly what was said. Regardless of the fact that it's the diabetic nurses that we see for the annual checks and supposedly for support, one of the GPs remains the person with overall responsibility for our 'care'.

To be honest, if you and I were patients at the same practice, I'd hope you'd be making moves towards a formal complaint. I'd hate to be the next one in the queue who gets equally dangerous advice!

 

[Bildad]

I have finished my reply and had it moderated! I have included some of Dr Unwins statistics that he tweets from time to time. I have also pointed out some of the errors from the consultation along with links to NICE and other clinical evidence to support my point of view. I am very doubtful that I will receive a response to it or that anything will change.
I will post again if I do get a response.
I will carry on with my Keto / IF as I know it works in 7 months I have lost 4 stone and lowered my Hba1c from 78 to 37 and have come off my Diabetes medication.
Thank you to all those who have offered advice over those 7 months it has helped a lot.