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Advice needed for 1st Low carb doc appt!

T

titannia

Member
Messages
23
Location
East Sussex
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi
I have my yearly check up this week and it is the first time i have seen the doctor whilst low- carbing.
Has anyone got any advice if my doc really doesnt like me being on this diet? Has anyone had problems with this issue? Eating this was really suits me and my BG levels are excellent, I think he will probably be ok about it but forewarned is forarmed! :lol: Thanks xx
 
If he doesn't like it, tough. You don't even have to tell him. Just say you've worked out what causes your blood sugar to rise and you avoid eating that stuff.

wiflib
 
Definitely agree with above. if you say you are low carbing some of them take fright and feel they have to warn you off i because that is the "party line". Not all of course.

Most are just so pleased to see the good results they don't enquire too closely or else they ry to take the credit for it!
 
I agree with Wiflib - very good advice there! Or "controlling my carbohydrate intake" is a good phrase. But much the easiest thing is to avoid the topic, so go with Wiflib.

Doctors differ - mine knows I follow the Atkins diet, and is quite happy about it, as is the practice nurse, while there are others in the practice that I just wouldn't mention it to. I'm going to please myself anyway, so no point starting an argument!

Viv 8)
 
I had an argument with my DSN some years ago about "carbohydrate control". She wanted me to follow the "eat carbs with every meal" path. Since then I have found it much easier not to mention my diet, I just use phrases like "I am careful with what I eat" etc.

Anyway, it's your body, you can put what you like into it. I also don't eat meat, nobody tries to tell me that I should, so why should they tell me to eat carbs if I don't want to.

I have to say that my DSN has actually mellowed somewhat as regards low carbs, but I suspect that there are some official guidelines she has to follow.

H
 
Thanks everyone, i saw the practice nurse today and she was actually ok! She just wanted me to eat potatoes!?! i have no idea why, but i feel more confident about tackling the doctor tomorrow, fingers crossed!
 
One of the first things they say when you start diabetes is that it is YOUR condition and you will become your own best advisor/expert. I have been low carbing for 18 months or so and although the doc isn't keen, the results speak for themselves.
I think the best approach is to be bold about it, show that you have done your research and simply state that this is what you are trying and what it is you are hoping to gain.
The worst of low carb is eating out really, one can end up with some very odd meals!
Good luck with it and enjoy the lower HBA1C figures!
Mark
 
Type 2 diagnosed a year ago. Initially told to try controlling with diet and exercise but given no information at all. Tested again and told I needed to be medicated. Surprise, surprise.
Initially I was prescribed metformin but I reacted badly to it and decided to try low carbing. My HbA1c more than halved in three months and I am sure that this success was at least in part due to the fact that I had purchased a monitor and regularly tested. When I tried to explain what I was doing to my doctor and that I had identified some carbs as particularly problematic for me - such as brown rice and porridge, his response was that they should be OK and refused to prescribe for strips for me! My testing has shown that I don't have to treat all carbs the same and by not taking medication I am saving that money. Very annoyed, not supportive or helpful at all. Thank goodness for diabetes.co.uk.
 
If you do decide to tell your GP thatt you are low carbing and he disagrees I sugest asking why .In fact it is a good ide to ask questions about any thing they sugest or disagree with If you ask if this will be better for you or how will this effect your DB you will usually be left to manage your DB the way that you find is best for you :!:
CAROL
 
Thanks all, i saw the doc today and he didnt flinch when i told him, all that worry for nothing! My HbA1c was 8.2 but i only started low carbs 3 weeks ago and he agreed to retest in 3 months to see if it comes down. However, i was a bit annoyed that he put me on higher blood pressure tablets even though he knows i have white coat syndrome! I am having it done again in 2 weeks time and will insist on a 24 hour monitor. My cholesterol was 3.6, i was so pleased!
I am so glad i stumbled across this site, its so informative and you dont feel that anyone will laugh at you if you ask a silly question, if only i had found this site 5 years ago (if it existed!) i would have been so much better off!
 
I have never seen a silly question on this site. It is almost always clarification, and that's where personal experience is so useful. The doctor gets taught the text book scenario, the theoretical, the people here giving their response, from practical experience. AS for increasing your BP tablets, I can't help but wonder if this is almost a silly reaction, OK you have done better than me controlling your Hba1c, so to justify my job I will increase your BP meds ? Or am I just being cynical ?
 
No you are not being cynical mrawful - just percepive.... If all else fails -tro ou he blood pressure chesnut even if you know he patient to suffer from WCS.

It is also a good ploy for annual reviews- just make a song and dance abou bp and there won't be time for he patient to ask awkward questions about heir diabetes and reatment.

Even after the DR acceping my home readings after seeing and checking my meter the DSN - purely to try to show that she has some power is still making a fuss about my readings when she sees me.
High reading when I see her are a self fulfilling rophecy. Strange int doesn' happen in he hispital when I am facing unpleassan ans d sressful treatment.

he is now elling me that my home monitor needs calibrating every 6 months. The manufacturer says
2 years. I have wo monitors which I check against each other . Hard o believe that they would both by ou by the same amount at the same time. I have told her before that SHE is the problem with my BP.

I realise how important BP comnrol is . I was dadvised o byuy the monitor by a diabetic dovctor and understand hat it is not as accurate as he ne in he surgery and gives lower readings. It will however ,show trends surely?

I was given ramipril as a precauionarey measure when I had a bleed in my eye. In the first week I
passed out 3 imes after taking it. A couple of years ago they raised he dose. My BP went very low and sayed that way for wo days and I suffered anothrer major bleed in my eye- I have o believe the wo hings were related.

I am not going to refuse medication which is necessary but neither am I going to accept harmful medication because the DSN needs o feel powerful.
Or maybe here is some kingd of finacial incentive in blood pressure management at the moment.

Now who is cynical? Maybe the pracices wan o take over the 24 hr monitoring from the hospitals by incresing he numbers requiring it?
 
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