confused by my GP

[lucylocket61]

I saw my GP today. She told me my Vitamin D is low (24) but i dont need supplements, I need to get outside more, and they dont prescribe supplements anyway.

She told me my type 2 is doing well over the past three years since my diagnosis. I pointed out that I have been diagnosed for nearly 8 years, but came to her practice 3 years ago. Apparently she does not have any notes from my previous practice, therefore she didnt acept my timeline.

She said that, my cholesterol should be 4 or less and pushed hard for statins. I tried to explain, but failed to get her to listen even though I was calm and factual.

She told me to go low fat. I pointed out that I have been low carbing for 7 years, that is how I have kept my blood sugars down. If i also low fat, what food group is left for me to eat - protein?

She replied that too much protein would damage my kidneys so - no. But, due to my good results she wont give me Metformin either. Stalemate!!!

However, low carbing is not an option, she said, longterm, so I may needs some meds. The same time as saying I cant have any due to low carbing sucess. Which she wants me to stop, with no alternative, so my blood sugars would rise again.

Finally, she is sending me for a liver scan to confim my fatty liver as, apparently, all overweight type 2's have a fatty live. But there is no treatment, I have to lose weight. Even though I cant.

I was calm, polite and helpful all through this. I felt unheard, treated dismissively, and that is that is the sort of illogical nonsense professional people deliver, in the face of all evidence from my own medical notes, I am doomed as far as getting any help from them, even if I get complications.

I think the bit about the Vitamin D level, and having no safe food group to eat was the bit which got me most annoyed.

I have reached the Twilight Zone.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

....All the other nonsense aside, you can't get all that much D from going out now. lack of sun and all. You're really low, so perk that up some by hitting the fatty fish, and hitting it hard. (Salmon, tuna). And get some supplements from Holland & Barrett's. Don't rely on this quack. Sheesh.

 

[lucylocket61]

....All the other nonsense aside, you can't get all that much D from going out now. lack of sun and all. You're really low, so perk that up some by hitting the fatty fish, and hitting it hard. (Salmon, tuna). And get some supplements from Holland & Barrett's. Don't rely on this quack. Sheesh.

I did point out that that was my result after taking 1000iu for a year, but she said to stop taking it, sunshine is best. I am a very fair skinned former red head living in a damp, dark part of the world.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I did point out that that was my result after taking 1000iu for a year, but she said to stop taking it, sunshine is best. I am a very fair skinned former red head living in a damp, dark part of the world.

I wonder where she got her degree from. Maybe you should switch seats, you know more than she does. Unbelievable.

 

[mojo37]

I did point out that that was my result after taking 1000iu for a year, but she said to stop taking it, sunshine is best. I am a very fair skinned former red head living in a damp, dark part of the world.

Think she is talking through her proverbial lol

 

[JohnEGreen]

@lucylocket61 Have you tried ear plugs.

Then at least you would not have to listen to such nonsense.

 

[HSSS]

Do you have the option to not see this gp again?
My problem is I lose all faith in the gp system when we encounter this type of “knowledge” and resistance over and over again. And we are just sharing with regards to diabetes. What about other conditions? Is that as bad?

 

[Redshank]

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
NHS guidance on VitD which suggests supplements during autumn and winter
A shame you doctor is ignorant of this

 

[JAT1]

What about other conditions? Is that as bad?

That's what I wonder too. I wouldn't be able to fully trust any more. Even though my life was saved 3 times because of surgery.

 

[Member496333]

The average GP vs. Diabetes.

 

[copilost]

I felt unheard, treated dismissively

well to be fair you were unheard and treated dismissively

How very demoralising and upsetting this whole experience must have been, in all honesty ditch the doctor, really disrespectful and not healthy for you on any level <hug>

I was just reading a paper on T2 and Vit D and they were giving supplements of Vitamin D3 at 4000 IU/daily (so you could up your dosage) which lowered HbA1c at 24 weeks but not earlier in patients using lifestyle only to control diabetes (although this was a small subset of the main sample so could just be a chance finding). There are theories out there about vit D lowering insulin resistance and improving pancreatic function. I'm about to start taking supplements as the 2 minutes a day i spend in the northern hemisphere winter sunshine is very unlikely to be sufficient. I think I read that even hours won't cut it at this time of year.....

 

[Lamont D]

This sounds like the advice I got in the dark ages, around the turn of the century!
It didn't help then, nearly seen me off ten years ago, and if I hadn't ignored this advice!

And I thought that things were improving in most surgeries around the country!

 

[Brunneria]

Oh @lucylocket61

How frustrating and demoralising.
The belief that excess weight is the Root of All Evil, and low fat will Save The World has clouded the vision of many HCPs i have met over the years.

In your situation I would be confident that my own knowledge trumps her dismissive stock answers. Of course, my knowledge is backed/verified by living in my body for the whole of my life, my own blood testing, my own dietary experience, the experience of many others (here on the forum and elsewhere), and the studies, articles and research I have read.

Can you up your over the counter vit D supplements? And did you know that low Vit D may prevent/halt/slow weight loss?

 

[Resurgam]

Any Asimov fans?
Is it my imagination or is the supply of cheap carbohydrate not a little like the electron pump in The gods themselves?

 

[lucylocket61]

Oh @lucylocket61

How frustrating and demoralising.
The belief that excess weight is the Root of All Evil, and low fat will Save The World has clouded the vision of many HCPs i have met over the years.

In your situation I would be confident that my own knowledge trumps her dismissive stock answers. Of course, my knowledge is backed/verified by living in my body for the whole of my life, my own blood testing, my own dietary experience, the experience of many others (here on the forum and elsewhere), and the studies, articles and research I have read.

Can you up your over the counter vit D supplements? And did you know that low Vit D may prevent/halt/slow weight loss?

I can up my OTC vitamin d, and k2- but am not sure how much is safe to take : (

 

[Goonergal]

I can up my OTC vitamin d, and k2- but am not sure how much is safe to take : (

@lucylocket61 so sorry to hear about such a frustrating and uninformed (from the GPS side) conversation.

I’ve been taking between 4,000 and 5,000 iu of vitamin d3 a day plus k2 for over a year now with no nasty side effects.

 

[carol50]

This is the same problem that is being pumped out all over the place to Type one Diabetic's. But ask your doctor this every time do you specifically specialise in Diabetic's type one if not then please don't be ignorant and learn something new and take up the challenge to fix this horrible disease.

 

[Norfolkmell]

I think all 'diabetes professionals' need to be able to discuss the pros and cons of different treatments and dietary regimes however most don't seem to accept a different way of thinking from their own. I'm sure that if diabetes affected them or their family personally they would do all the research they could to find out what helps. I've been exceedingly lucky with my GP who told me about LCHF at diagnosis. I know that when we do move I am going to have to see all of the five GP's at my new surgery to find out who will be most supportive to me and the idea of LCHF. My present GP has said that if I have any trouble to get the new GP to contact him for all the information that he has on the benefits of LCHF.
I hope lucylocket61 you can see a different GP next time as you have the right to see any GP and not just your randomly allocated one.
I take vitamin d supplements, co-enzyme q10, multi vitamins all with my GP's knowledge and support. And have done for most of my adult life, as a child I was forced fed cod liver oil and vitamin supplements by my Mum as I was a very fussy eater (but I think that was more to do with her cooking), my Dad and Brother both seemed pleased when I was old enough to take over the cooking!

 

[DCUKMod]

I can up my OTC vitamin d, and k2- but am not sure how much is safe to take : (

@lucylocket61 , the Vitamin D Council has a very informative website, I think you might like: https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/#.XbjBOfmnyhA

When my thyroid started to struggle, my natural Vit D dropped like a stone, so I have been supplementing of late.

I stopped the supplement when I went to SE Asia for a couple of months, as I reckoned I could end up OTT. I ended up very darkly tanned, but my Vit D, tested shortly after I got home had literally just held its own.

 

[Daibell]

My GP was just as ignorant but I'm now managed by a lovely DN in my surgery who talks about low-carb and does listen etc. I think diabetes training for GPs is dire. My GP had just come off the Warwick diabetes training course, I believe, yet wasn't apparently told that you can become T1 outside of childhood. It appears the whole system is based on ignorance and a complete lack of learning from us - the experts. I'm very critical of DUK (not this website) who could be helping but are in the same league.