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

DESMOND course today

lucylocket61

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,394
Location
Wrexham
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello, just got back off holiday and went on my DESMOND course today. It was pretty much as I expected but with one big difference

The amount of carbs recommended was 1/4 of my daily calorie intake, which is much less than I have previously heard recommended by HCP's. Apparently this is the new suggestion in the light of new research.

I asked for a specific number to aim for, but there isnt a number of grams recommended, or a figure for daily calorie consumption either. And they were heavily pushing the Low-fat/no saturated animal fat idea.
 
Wow!! :shock: That IS more enlightened than the "If you like 2 twix's a day then just eat one" advice that was advocated at the Desmond course I got banned from! :thumbup: :thumbup: 25% carbs per day of your total dietary intake is a step in the right direction but I guess this whole "Saturated animal fats are bealzebub" message they push is going to take a while to die down!
 
Nope, still very, very against testing. The nurse even got a bit worked up about it. It will make us neurotic and cost too much. The NHS must target those in need and not waste money..........studies have shown that people who test dont do anything constructive with the results.......etc.

I did have the guts to gently point out that maybe, if those testing had been given the education on how to use their results and lower their glucose levels, it would have had a more positive outcome. And that giving people tools without the means to use them constructively is not the fault of the meters (tools) but the HCP's for not giving the instructions...........but that fell on deaf ears.

And I didnt get an answer to my question about how I will know if the recommended dietary changes are working with an annual HbA1c test as my only source of information.
 
Can you ask - If I make carbs 1/4 of my calories, what should the other 3/4 comprise, if my diet is still low fat?
 
Hi Lucy! Trouble is with quarter carbs, quarter protein and half "fruit and veg" is - what do they think "fruit and veg" is comprised of?a new food group? Fresh air? Are they saying it doesn't have carbs? The ratio they suggest is meaningless. In fact, it probably works back to about 50% carbs again!
 
Good point Grazer.

I think they meant carbs=bread, potatoes,rice,pasta.

They did emphasise that sugars and starches were all carbs, but also seemed to be saying that there were 'good' carbs and 'bad' carbs.

The 'starchy carbs' - bread, potatoes, rice and pasta, were the 'good' ones.

I found it all rather convoluted with very little logic applied. But I didnt think it was my place to interfere too much.

Incidentally, there were 8 of us newly diagnosed there, and 4 of us had several close relatives who are type 2. I found that interesting. And most were not obese either.
 
Back
Top