• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Am I being stupid in going to a nutritionist?

A

Angelofthemarches

Well-Known Member
Messages
856
Location
Buckinghamshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Horrible shoes
Still felt terrible 5 months after stabilising BG (via the libre) so went to see a nutritionist because of the exhaustion. This could of course be down to insulin resistance...
But the nutritionist thought there was something going on in addition to DM and suggested I ask my go for further tests. The gp was very dismissive and said if I wanted more input re my diabetes to come and see him but he would not run any more tests. He had never heard of the freestyle libre and appeared incredulous that such a thing existed. I felt quite down after talking to him and stupid at having gone to the nutritionist.
But maybe the latter could still help, even 'just' with the diabetes management?
I felt very dismissed by the gp. I did not want to even mention lchf.
 
well so many with diabetes get depressed or feel exhausted or feel cronic fatigue ... I don´t think you are stupid wanting to feel healthy and well... maybe it could be time to change your GP if that is possible...

has he ruled out earlier that you don´t have metabolic issues ..? like hypothyroidism ... ? or if your iron levels are normal and so on...?

and how are your level of vitamin D ?
 
He hasn't tested for vitamin d, but to be fair to him he's tested for anaemia (though not ferritin) and tsh. But not t4 or t3. So he has done a few of the main ones. I just still have the chronic fatigue and it does not seem to alter, no matter what. I think I will continue with the nutritionist because I still want to maximise my health as much as I can.
 
Angelofthemarches said:
Still felt terrible 5 months after stabilising BG (via the libre) so went to see a nutritionist because of the exhaustion. This could of course be down to insulin resistance...
But the nutritionist thought there was something going on in addition to DM and suggested I ask my go for further tests. The gp was very dismissive and said if I wanted more input re my diabetes to come and see him but he would not run any more tests. He had never heard of the freestyle libre and appeared incredulous that such a thing existed. I felt quite down after talking to him and stupid at having gone to the nutritionist.
But maybe the latter could still help, even 'just' with the diabetes management?
I felt very dismissed by the gp. I did not want to even mention lchf.
Click to expand...
It's really bad that your doctor isn't treating you like a fellow human being, let alone a patient. There is no excuse for his lack of knowledge and empathy. I recommend you change him or see someone else on the panel. As far as the nutritionist is concerned, you should do what is right for you, you may find something that explains things. I am a bit suspicious of nutritionists because I have read several cases of them being uninformed and prejudiced, but I'm sure there are plenty of good ones!
 
I started with a nutrionist and then moved on to a naturopath. You are right to search for answers, it's your health. I have paid privately to have some blood tests done too. My GP wouldn't test me for vit d and I was insufficient in it. I still haven't got all the answers but I am getting nearer.

best of luck with this.
 
I have both chronic fatigue syndrome and now type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure too. I have worked and plan to speak tomorrow again to my nutritionist about this. I know the lchf is best for us she even said so herself getting plenty rest and starting yoga has helped me destress a bit too
 
I was always exhausted and no matter what I did with my diet and meds I felt no better. I then added a vitamin D supplement to my morning routine and less than a month later I was, and still am, full of the energy I had as a teenager. Just to prove the point, since that energy returned I've gone from minimum wage to £36k per year and comfortably out work guys 20 years my junior, all because of a supplement.

Guess who recommended vitamin D! No, not my doctor or DSN. You've guessed it, a nutritional expert who just happened to open a shop near me.
 
Angelofthemarches said:
Still felt terrible 5 months after stabilising BG (via the libre) so went to see a nutritionist because of the exhaustion. This could of course be down to insulin resistance...
But the nutritionist thought there was something going on in addition to DM and suggested I ask my go for further tests. The gp was very dismissive and said if I wanted more input re my diabetes to come and see him but he would not run any more tests. He had never heard of the freestyle libre and appeared incredulous that such a thing existed. I felt quite down after talking to him and stupid at having gone to the nutritionist.
But maybe the latter could still help, even 'just' with the diabetes management?
I felt very dismissed by the gp. I did not want to even mention lchf.
Click to expand...

Going to a Nutritional Therapist was the best thing I ever did and has made a radical change to my overall health. We know so much more about MY health because of tests that I have paid for, including c-peptide, insulin resistance (essential knowledge for me), Vitamin D, Vitamin K, CoQ10, Magnesium, . . . . . . . . . It's a long list. My nutritional therapist is the person who put me onto HbOT and I'm now a volunteer learning the ropes to control the equipment to help people with MS improve their well being. So although no one particular magic remedy, a lot of things to help improve matters.

Your NT is probably right about something else going on. GPs aren't interested because they treat symptoms not necessarily the cause of those symptoms. It's why a lot of them aren't that keen on the Low Carb thing, that's treating the cause of high BG, not the symptom of high BG.

I think it's very sad when a GP or DN says they've never heard of something like the FreeStyle Libre, it merely confirms that they just stop learning, which is a real shame and not unusual. I have thought on several occasions that maybe my GP should pay me to keep her informed of what's going on in the diabetic world, although I'm happy to tell her what I'm up to and she's cool with me visiting the Nutritional Therapist, all tests I pay for are copied to GP.

So the answer to your question is that you are very definitely not stupid in seeing an NT and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. One caveat, they should be a member of something like BANT (British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy) or have a degree in Nutritional Medicine or similar. It seems anyone can call themselves a Nutritional Therapist.

I wish you every success with your NT, it should be a rewarding healthy relationship.
 
Thankyou so much my friends, you have really made my day/week! I felt so down hearted about it all. I'm going to get some of these tests done, eg vitamin d, and at the very least it'll rule some things out. Big hugs to everyone this morning, you're stars!! :) :hug:
 
My doc wouldn't pay for a vit d test either.
Got tested privately (£28).
Deficient.
Started supplementing.
My goodness what a difference! Must have been deficient for years, judging by the symptoms that lifted.
Paid for a 2nd test and now have optimal levels. Very pleased.

If you go the same route, don't forget to get the vitD3 variety of D and take vit K2 as a complimentary supplement. They make a huge difference to absorbability and effectiveness.
 
Last edited:
Just about every one in the country is deficient in vit d the amount of sunlight we get is not sufficient so supplementation is a good idea.
 
That's what my neurologist said to me - that most people in the northern climes i.e. us, would be vitamin D deficient. (This came up as part of a conversation because I'm getting to a certain age and have been on steroids for years so I wanted my bones checked - which are thankfully okay). Also if you are overweight you are more inclined to be deficient. Very odd! Anyone with diabetes is likely to be deficient and should supplement.
 
Nicksu said:
That's what my neurologist said to me - that most people in the northern climes i.e. us, would be vitamin D deficient. (This came up as part of a conversation because I'm getting to a certain age and have been on steroids for years so I wanted my bones checked - which are thankfully okay). Also if you are overweight you are more inclined to be deficient. Very odd! Anyone with diabetes is likely to be deficient and should supplement.
Click to expand...

maybe the vitamin D is lost inside all the filled fatcells
 
Freema said:
maybe the vitamin D is lost inside all the filled fatcells
Click to expand...
!! I have this vague memory about it being something to do with it interfering in how its absorbed (though don't quote me on that - I'm not exactly sure my memory is correct!).
 
Nicksu said:
!! I have this vague memory about it being something to do with it interfering in how its absorbed (though don't quote me on that - I'm not exactly sure my memory is correct!).
Click to expand...

vitamin D is fat soluble so maybe that is why people with usually a lot of fat don´t have much in their blood... but well I don´t know either... it could also be the raised blood glucose doing harm to the vitamin... who really knows for sure.. or maybe because many that have gone overweight do try to eat low fat diet, and that vitamin d is actually in the fatty content of ones diet, or maybe because many are being too much inside their house and never get any sunshine on their skin when they maybe feel ill...
 
Get your serum calcium levels checked before taking Vitamin D as it is not recommended for anyone with high serum calcium
CAROL
 
Freema said:
vitamin D is fat soluble so maybe that is why people with usually a lot of fat don´t have much in their blood... but well I don´t know either... it could also be the raised blood glucose doing harm to the vitamin... who really knows for sure.. or maybe because many that have gone overweight do try to eat low fat diet, and that vitamin d is actually in the fatty content of ones diet, or maybe because many are being too much inside their house and never get any sunshine on their skin when they maybe feel ill...
Click to expand...
There is some research on vitamin d3 and fat, see
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25441954/
 
Back
Top