1st review with nurse...feel a bit :(
- Thread starter Lea76
- Start Date
Mongoose39uk
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 495
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Sprouts
No I am not.
I sat down and added the carbs up and guess what it was a lot less than people were suggesting.
I sat down and added the carbs up and guess what it was a lot less than people were suggesting.
paul-1976
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,695
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Dishonesty
The thing is though...MANY people including myself who are active and need in excess of 2000 Kcal a day,CANNOT hold good BG's on the level of carbs that are suggested in the NHS 'Eatwell plate' without reducing portion sizes to an unsustainable level for a physically active adult,sure,some people may get away with such high carb levels for a while but they are knocking their already compromised pancreas on the head and it will just lead to a further reduction in BETA cell function thus higher BG's plus increased meds and then weight gain plus more insulin resistance and round and round the merry-go-round we go.
Mongoose39uk
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 495
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Sprouts
I need in excess of 2000k a day, I manage it.
My BMR is 1600 k/cal. I swim a km or more 6 days a week. I do a lot of walking. It soon adds up.
I do appreciate I am not everyone and it does not work for everyone.
Having said that I am currently giving the Newcastle a crack to try and get better results.
BTW my dad was type 2 as well and did eat well for about 30 years and never went onto medication. So there are extremes available at both ends.
My BMR is 1600 k/cal. I swim a km or more 6 days a week. I do a lot of walking. It soon adds up.
I do appreciate I am not everyone and it does not work for everyone.
Having said that I am currently giving the Newcastle a crack to try and get better results.
BTW my dad was type 2 as well and did eat well for about 30 years and never went onto medication. So there are extremes available at both ends.
sparkyrich
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 197
Hi Lea,
My experience with the diabetic nurse at our surgery was fairly negative also. The differing approaches between the nurse and GP you mentioned could be due to some people always having a "glass half empty" approach, conflict between professionals etc.... but that is their problem not yours! Read up/research all you can about diabetes, I have found some of the books by Patrick Holford a qualified nutritional therapist with a lot of experience in helping those with diabetes to be very encouraging and helpful,( read up what he says about Metformin) especially in relation to how you can manage your diet and taking supplements to help.
Congratulations on getting your levels down so well.... remember that HBA1C levels have been adjusted down over the years ( thereby ensuring more people go on the drug therefore better profits for the drug company!)and there will be very many people whose levels are far higher who have no idea they have diabetes, and yes if you read the literature there are those who have had type 2 diabetes reversed without drug intervention but through diet, supplements and exercise. My GP wanted me to go on Metformin with an HBA1C level which had come down from 10.4 to 6.6... within three months, accompanied by weight loss,a lowering of cholesterol and blood pressure to normal. Metformin is suggested for those with an HBA1C level of 6.5% or over ( look up NICE guidelines) but what you have to remember is that Doctors and nurses are practising in a tick box culture, and are less likely to use individual clinical judgement as a result
Fact regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, chromium and cinnamon are said to help regulate blood sugar levels, read up about eating protein with carbohydrate for a slower release of sugars. Stress, a poor sleep pattern, and infection can all temporarily raise sugar levels. Diabetes is a medical condition, the complications of it are serious if experienced, but if you can regulate your blood sugars and keep them low there is far less likelihood of complications, not everyone gets them. It is misguided of the practice nurse to be so unrelentingly negative... how is that supposed to encourage anyone, it's more likely to de motivate than motivate someone! Don't allow yourself to be bullied into treatment options you are not happy with... and if you can change to a more empathetic nurse!
My experience with the diabetic nurse at our surgery was fairly negative also. The differing approaches between the nurse and GP you mentioned could be due to some people always having a "glass half empty" approach, conflict between professionals etc.... but that is their problem not yours! Read up/research all you can about diabetes, I have found some of the books by Patrick Holford a qualified nutritional therapist with a lot of experience in helping those with diabetes to be very encouraging and helpful,( read up what he says about Metformin) especially in relation to how you can manage your diet and taking supplements to help.
Congratulations on getting your levels down so well.... remember that HBA1C levels have been adjusted down over the years ( thereby ensuring more people go on the drug therefore better profits for the drug company!)and there will be very many people whose levels are far higher who have no idea they have diabetes, and yes if you read the literature there are those who have had type 2 diabetes reversed without drug intervention but through diet, supplements and exercise. My GP wanted me to go on Metformin with an HBA1C level which had come down from 10.4 to 6.6... within three months, accompanied by weight loss,a lowering of cholesterol and blood pressure to normal. Metformin is suggested for those with an HBA1C level of 6.5% or over ( look up NICE guidelines) but what you have to remember is that Doctors and nurses are practising in a tick box culture, and are less likely to use individual clinical judgement as a result
Fact regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, chromium and cinnamon are said to help regulate blood sugar levels, read up about eating protein with carbohydrate for a slower release of sugars. Stress, a poor sleep pattern, and infection can all temporarily raise sugar levels. Diabetes is a medical condition, the complications of it are serious if experienced, but if you can regulate your blood sugars and keep them low there is far less likelihood of complications, not everyone gets them. It is misguided of the practice nurse to be so unrelentingly negative... how is that supposed to encourage anyone, it's more likely to de motivate than motivate someone! Don't allow yourself to be bullied into treatment options you are not happy with... and if you can change to a more empathetic nurse!
As many people have said, knowledge within the NHS can vary around diabetes, but ultimately you need to listen to your gut instinct while being honest with your HCPs. I was initially referred to the diabetes nurse by the GP, who told me she "knew much more about diabetes and is a specialist".
I was told I was type 2. At 32 years old I was losing significant weight every day and my hair was falling out as a result. After 2 weeks of being told to manage it through diet, (my diet is exceptional therefore she told me to just carry on as normal) I demanded to see the doctor for a ketone test. Sure enough I'm type 1 and narrowly missed an emergency hospital visit.
My point is, they are well meaning but they aren't always right and it is your job to challenge them but you need to be honest too. They are only there to make you better.
I was told I was type 2. At 32 years old I was losing significant weight every day and my hair was falling out as a result. After 2 weeks of being told to manage it through diet, (my diet is exceptional therefore she told me to just carry on as normal) I demanded to see the doctor for a ketone test. Sure enough I'm type 1 and narrowly missed an emergency hospital visit.
My point is, they are well meaning but they aren't always right and it is your job to challenge them but you need to be honest too. They are only there to make you better.
Hi jvyp. Any DN who has a young 32 year old patient who has been losing weight HAS to suspect LADA and to diagnose T2 is just ignorant. I remember my 'specialist' diabetes GP at my second appointment after a T2 diagnosis saying 'carry on with the weight reduction' after putting me on the scales and taking a reading below average weight for my age, height etc. It never occurred to him that I was losing weight thru no efforts on my part and probably a LADA. The good news is that my current DN is excellent so the NHS is a lottery.
Had a meeting with my dn recently and I asked her about it getting worse and eventually needing insulin. She said yes but when talking about timescales, if I control the bg it could be decades. Don't think I am too concerned about that - maybe if I turn out to be immortal I'll change my mind.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Lea, congratulations on the great results.
I recently had my medication halved.. basically my hbA1c was excellent for my last two visits and I talked to my DN and we agreed to halve my dosage. I haven't been back since (next appointment due around Christmas) but I do check my BG if I eat something that I am not sure of and, after a little hiccup for a week or so as I adjusted to halving my medication, it settled back to good results. I am hoping that if my next hbA1c is as good as the last that I can halve my medication again.
The point I am making is that you are responsible for looking after yourself and if you are reasonable with your HCP, and can prove via the hbA1c that things are going well, then they are more likely to see things from your point of view.
As an example, my DN was horrified when I said I was controlling my diabetes by a LCHF diet, but as I was walking out the door she said to me.. "Well, whatever you are doing, keep it up, it's working".
They will listen to you if they see the evidence.
I recently had my medication halved.. basically my hbA1c was excellent for my last two visits and I talked to my DN and we agreed to halve my dosage. I haven't been back since (next appointment due around Christmas) but I do check my BG if I eat something that I am not sure of and, after a little hiccup for a week or so as I adjusted to halving my medication, it settled back to good results. I am hoping that if my next hbA1c is as good as the last that I can halve my medication again.
The point I am making is that you are responsible for looking after yourself and if you are reasonable with your HCP, and can prove via the hbA1c that things are going well, then they are more likely to see things from your point of view.
As an example, my DN was horrified when I said I was controlling my diabetes by a LCHF diet, but as I was walking out the door she said to me.. "Well, whatever you are doing, keep it up, it's working".
They will listen to you if they see the evidence.
