Dear Mr Day,
Thank you for your comments.
For those trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight a reduced carb diet certainly can be beneficial.
Our general advice and plate diagram reflects the recommendations of the Food Standards Agency. We do recognise that there are many contradictions surrounding carbohydrates in the diet of someone with diabetes and the right approach for each individual should really be decided between a patient and their doctor or dietician [sic]. This can be done with an insight into the patient's, medication, type of diabetes and weight loss goals and therefore provide individual dietary advice relevant to each patient. The amount of carbohydrate needed for someone with Type 2 will differ greatly to someone with Type 1 on insulin.
As such Diabetes UK are setting up a professional advisory project group next year to examine all the evidence and produce even better information. The group will be made up of healthcare professionals with the expectation that each group will only last for one year before concluding its work plans.
The forum at diabetes.co.uk is not something Diabetes UK has any affiliation with and so cannot comment on the accuracy of information given here, though it appears to be based generally on personal opinions and experiences. Though this kind of sharing can be very helpful and enlightening it is also best to be a little cautious when following the advice and it would be advisable to discuss any planned changes with your GP first to ensure they are suitable for your individual circumstances.
Following member feedback we have planning to launch an online forum in October details of which will be published in Balance. This will be accessible via a link from our homepage. Currently we do have a Facebook page where people can share their comments and concerns though this is of course limited to Facebook users.
Please contact us again if we can be of further assistance. You can also call our Careline on 0845 120 2960*, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The lines are staffed by trained Careline counsellors who would be happy to offer what support and information they can.
With Best Wishes
Diabetes UK Careline
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