Comparing GP Opinion

[Listlad]

Today I visited my local surgery primarily to discuss improving the condition of my toenails and legs. I deliberately chose a different GP this time. So we discussed that and the relationship to high blood sugar levels. Then it gave me the opportunity to check him out for his views on LCHF. This time he did not show recognition of the LCHF method, unlike his practice colleague. He advised me to be wary of high fats.

He also explained how he had personally had a gastric operation to prevent him from eating too much.

We discussed meters. Just like his colleague he explained that the policy was only to give them out if there was a chance of hypos and said that the test strips were very expensive and the surgery would not provide them either.

He congratulated me on my continueing success with LCHF dieting and encouraged me to continue losing weight as the best means of further regulating blood sugar levels and help improve the condition of my lower legs.

True story. And an interesting test.

 

[Jaylee]

Today I visited my local surgery primarily to discuss improving the condition of my toenails and legs. I deliberately chose a different GP this time. So we discussed that and the relationship to high blood sugar levels. Then it gave me the opportunity to check him out for his views on LCHF. This time he did not show recognition of the LCHF method, unlike his practice colleague. He advised me to be wary of high fats.

He also explained how he had personally had a gastric operation to prevent him from eating too much.

We discussed meters. Just l8ke his colleague he explained that the policy was only to give them out if there was a chance of hypos and said that the test strips were very expensive and the surgery would not provide them either.

He congratulated me on my continueing success with LCHF dieting and encouraged me to continue losing weight as the best means of further regulating blood sugar levels and help improve the condition of my lower legs.

True story. And an interesting test.

Hi,

Seems like an interesting comparison to your usual GP. It is fascinating regarding the differing opinions & approaches.

Were you prescribed anything or referred to a podiatrist regarding your ongoing foot issue?

 

[Listlad]

Hi,

Seems like an interesting comparison to your usual GP. It is fascinating regarding the differing opinions & approaches.

Were you prescribed anything or referred to a podiatrist regarding your ongoing foot issue?

Yes, it hammered home to me to consider which GP to make appointments with in the future. Horses for courses maybe.

No referral.

But he did ask me to take a toenail cutting to test for fungal infection. He may prescribe medication on the basis of that.

What he did say was that it seems to be the case that even with meds the condition would be likely to continue yet again after a while. We then discussed how that might be different if my blood sugar was improved.

Thanks for asking.

 

[Jaylee]

Yes, it hammered home to me to consider which GP to make appointments with in the future. Horses for courses maybe.

No referral.

But he did ask me to take a toenail cutting to test for fungal infection. He may prescribe medication on the basis of that.

What he did say was that it seems to be the case that even with meds the condition would be likely to continue yet again after a while. We then disgusted how that might be different if my blood sugar was improved.

Thanks for asking.

Bit of a frustrating & ironic "catch 22" if the "policy" is not to supply or even recomend using a meter for the daily BG monitoring & management...

 

[Listlad]

Bit of a frustrating & ironic "catch 22" if the "policy" is not to supply or even recomend using a meter for the daily BG monitoring & management...

Indeed he didn’t even recommend one. Only for those at risk of hypos. Even though I don’t use one myself I still respect the need for other people to use them with Type 2 symptoms.

 

[Jaylee]

Indeed he didn’t even recommend one. Only for those at risk of hypos. Even though I don’t use one myself I still respect the need for other people to use them with Type 2 symptoms.

My dad was T2. Mentioned a few times over the years. ("Was," as in no longer with us.) However, though on metformin. He was given a meter & prescribed strips by his DSN. We had the same GP & DSN at the time.
It wasn't till he'd developed vascular demeture I got. A good chance to see what his diet contained, cut his carb content in certain quarters (from personal experience as a carb aware person myself.) by 40/60% & by sheer fluke the GP pulled him of the met...

It wasn't till I found this forum just after his passing, I discovered he was a lucky minority.

Logically; Meters are not just for hypo awareness. As a T1 it goes without saying BGs can go high too with the wrong balance of carb & meds, or even as a tool to correct a dodgy A1c diagnosis. .?

 

[Member496333]

...encouraged me to continue losing weight as the best means of further regulating blood sugar levels...

He’s got that a bit upside down and topsy turvy in my opinion. It’s the reduction in circulating insulin that enables the weight loss. Not the other way around.

 

[Listlad]

My dad was T2. Mentioned a few times over the years. ("Was," as in no longer with us.) However, though on metformin. He was given a meter & prescribed strips by his DSN. We had the same GP & DSN at the time.
It wasn't till he'd developed vascular demeture I got. A good chance to see what his diet contained, cut his carb content in certain quarters (from personal experience as a carb aware person myself.) by 40/60% & by sheer fluke the GP pulled him of the met...

It wasn't till I found this forum just after his passing, I discovered he was a lucky minority.

Logically; Meters are not just for hypo awareness. As a T1 it goes without saying BGs can go high too with the wrong balance of carb & meds, or even as a tool to correct a dodgy A1c diagnosis. .?

I do understand. For sure. Someone needs to speak to the guy I spoke to today. And put him straight.

 

[Listlad]

He’s got that a bit upside down and topsy turvy in my opinion. It’s the reduction in circulating insulin that enables the weight loss. Not the other way around.

You tell him Jim.

I won’t use him again for diabetes related matters.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Comparing GP Opinion

I deliberately chose a different GP this time.

I would not be doing this at the practice I go to, as the debate would go longer than the cheap 10 minute visit at $60.00 into a longer visit of twenty minute at $80.00. Stuffed if I would want it to go longer.

My regular GP is happy with what I have achieved in two years, my former GP has made a comment that I have lost my beer gut last time when I walked past her in the waiting room.

 

[Listlad]

I would not be doing this at the practice I go to, as the debate would go longer than the cheap 10 minute visit at $60.00 into a longer visit of twenty minute at $80.00. Stuffed if I would want it to go longer.

My regular GP is happy with what I have achieved in two years, my former GP has made a comment that I have lost my beer gut last time when I walked past her in the waiting room.

Understood. I was interested to see how far reaching the Dr David Unwin “gospel” had travelled around that (my) surgery. I got my answer.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Understood. I was interested to see how far reaching the Dr David Unwin “gospel” had travelled around that (my) surgery. I got my answer.

I have never mentioned any of the names that get quoted here to my GP's, most probably my CDE has heard of a few of them, but I do not as I have never asked her.

 

[Listlad]

I have never mentioned any of the names that get quoted here to my GP's, most probably my CDE has heard of a few of them, but I do not as I have never asked her.

I mentioned David Unwin as David Unwins surgery is about 10 kilometres from here and his colleague knows David Unwin. But...it didn’t seem to click with him.

Funnily enough he was sat at the very same desk as his colleague (who is a LCHF protagonist) sat in at my last appointment a month ago. Same desk, different opinion.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Funnily enough he was sat at the very same desk as his colleague who is a LCHF protagonist, sat in at my last appointment a month ago. Same desk, different opinion.

Opinions are like rectums, everyone has got one mate...

 

[Listlad]

Opinions are like rectums, everyone has got one mate...

Yeah. That’s a good saying that one. I was hoping to find a thread to post that one in.

I usually spell it a little differently to that.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I usually spell it a little differently to that.

Same here in real life, but owing to the censorship on this forum I use the anatomical term.

 

[Tophat1900]

Yeah. That’s a good saying that one. I was hoping to find a thread to post that one in.

I usually spell it a little differently to that.

Might have been interesting if you used that quote for the thread title...

At least he congratulated you on your success, unlike some who would of scorned you for that approach. I have to give him a thumbs up on that at least.

 

[Listlad]

Might have been interesting if you used that quote for the thread title...

At least he congratulated you on your success, unlike some who would of scorned you for that approach. I have to give him a thumbs up on that at least.

Yes. I thought that too. We have as a family seen him before for other things. He seems an okay dude. He just had a slightly different view to his practice colleague.

I ran the name of Dr Unwin past him and also mentioned his practice colleagues stance, but at that point he moved on, preferring to take a bodyswerve around a differing slant on things.