tonymajor68
Member
I've been invited to attend a desmond course in December. they state that if I don't attend or contact them I will be referred back to my gp. is it actually worth taking a day off work to attend. 
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desmond course
- Thread starter tonymajor68
- Start Date
I start the desmond course next week so I can let you have details of what it covers.
Apparently my blood sugar was 51 last April but my Gp never followed up. I had another blood test in August and know the result was higher but I do not know what:- the diabetic nurse went into mumble mode and became "distracted" with reading my notes. I am not on medication and my follow up is in March.
I cannot work out what 51+ means in the HbA1 code generally used and have no idea what questions I should be asking so if someone could give me some advice it will be much appreciated.
Some background I only found out I am class 2 diabetic mid September so I am stumbling around the internet trying to work it all out. The diabetic nurse suggested the Newcastle diet of 600 calories a day. I think that would kill me so I am doing something more akin to the Atkins diet. A lot of protein and no more than a tablespoon cooked rice or 1 slice of multi seed bread or 1 small foremost or 2 pink fir potato per day. Lots of omelette and hope I am doing the right thing.
I am female, 5ft 4 and 14 stone. I do not do gym or "exercise" but I have 500 m2 allotment which is worked in entirity.
Apparently my blood sugar was 51 last April but my Gp never followed up. I had another blood test in August and know the result was higher but I do not know what:- the diabetic nurse went into mumble mode and became "distracted" with reading my notes. I am not on medication and my follow up is in March.
I cannot work out what 51+ means in the HbA1 code generally used and have no idea what questions I should be asking so if someone could give me some advice it will be much appreciated.
Some background I only found out I am class 2 diabetic mid September so I am stumbling around the internet trying to work it all out. The diabetic nurse suggested the Newcastle diet of 600 calories a day. I think that would kill me so I am doing something more akin to the Atkins diet. A lot of protein and no more than a tablespoon cooked rice or 1 slice of multi seed bread or 1 small foremost or 2 pink fir potato per day. Lots of omelette and hope I am doing the right thing.
I am female, 5ft 4 and 14 stone. I do not do gym or "exercise" but I have 500 m2 allotment which is worked in entirity.
tonymajor68
Member
yes please, I'm still unsure whether to attend or not.
I did the first half this morning and for me it was excellent. I would say it is well worth it. The booklet that arrived pre course did not inspire confidence although I am sure the questions covering the depression aspect are helpful in focusing on the impacts diabetes can have.
IMHO the group you are in makes or breaks the course. The participants on mine are wonderful people willing to participate be non judgemental and have a laugh. We started with the inevitable introductions focusing on how long ago we were diagnosed, our symptoms, what we know about the disease, how we are handling it and what questions we would like answered. Then came an explanation of diabetes resistance, causes and reduction measures followed by a discussion on carbs, the carb content of various foodstuffs, reading food labels and how we can improve our food choices.
What makes the course work is that we can ask questions throughout, discuss food choices and suggest solutions to the questions of others. Happily my group is all willing to join in and no one attempted to control the discussion. For me it made sense of the snippets of information I have picked up bumbling around the internet and let me focus on certain aspects of my diet. I know the lady next to me focused on a completely different aspect of her lifestyle.
During the course I was given the readings from my blood test. I do not want to think about the hours I have spent trying to decipher jargon in the absence of 3 of those 5 figures. I always knew Type 2 was not a problem providing I made the necessary lifestyle changes now I have confidence in making a coherent attempt at dealing with the carb aspect. I suspect I will find my personal solution will be more challenging when the interactions and overlay from the other aspects are introduced next week.
In short I would say if you have any questions at all about diabetes go. Besides the handouts are the best information I have found so far. Tonight I shall have a small glass of red with some toast made with multi seed brown bread. Yay.
Hope you are finding your life styles changes manageable.
IMHO the group you are in makes or breaks the course. The participants on mine are wonderful people willing to participate be non judgemental and have a laugh. We started with the inevitable introductions focusing on how long ago we were diagnosed, our symptoms, what we know about the disease, how we are handling it and what questions we would like answered. Then came an explanation of diabetes resistance, causes and reduction measures followed by a discussion on carbs, the carb content of various foodstuffs, reading food labels and how we can improve our food choices.
What makes the course work is that we can ask questions throughout, discuss food choices and suggest solutions to the questions of others. Happily my group is all willing to join in and no one attempted to control the discussion. For me it made sense of the snippets of information I have picked up bumbling around the internet and let me focus on certain aspects of my diet. I know the lady next to me focused on a completely different aspect of her lifestyle.
During the course I was given the readings from my blood test. I do not want to think about the hours I have spent trying to decipher jargon in the absence of 3 of those 5 figures. I always knew Type 2 was not a problem providing I made the necessary lifestyle changes now I have confidence in making a coherent attempt at dealing with the carb aspect. I suspect I will find my personal solution will be more challenging when the interactions and overlay from the other aspects are introduced next week.
In short I would say if you have any questions at all about diabetes go. Besides the handouts are the best information I have found so far. Tonight I shall have a small glass of red with some toast made with multi seed brown bread. Yay.
Hope you are finding your life styles changes manageable.
So how am I finding the advice after 2 days? The big benefit was answering questions and giving me the info to make choices. Support does seem rather thin on the ground on forums like this. I am more directed in my research. Gone are the days of floundering in incomprehensible jargon.
The toast to negate wine was on the how to handle over imbibing on the diabetes and alcohol sheet. I never got round to trying it but since egg and toast (a regular meal in our house pre-diabetes) was on the allowed breakfast list I gave that a try for breakfast yesterday. I got that headache almost immediately. Back to omelette. I shall not do toast again but I do seem to be ok with porridge.
Clearly not all the advice given works for everyone. However since the GP practice could have given me several months headstart on handling my condition and the diabetes nurse started extolling the virtues of the newcastle diet as soon as she gave me the news I am diabetic (and prescribed statins without discussing drugs to handle diabetes) Diabetes focused Desmond is better than the GP.
Judging by my belt I have lost at least an inch since going no carb, no alcohol and eschew community cakefests (well except the day there was plum vodka cake, double ginger and choc hob nob). So the Desmond concept of reducing 100 calories a day by diet or exercise is a lot better than the suggestions from the practice. In case you are wondering 100 calories a day equals 12 lb a year and we got to hold the sack of potatoes represented by that weight.
Hope this helps your decision Tony. I shall close now but recheck this page after next Wednesdays meeting so if you do want an update give me a heads up. Otherwise Bye. All the best
The toast to negate wine was on the how to handle over imbibing on the diabetes and alcohol sheet. I never got round to trying it but since egg and toast (a regular meal in our house pre-diabetes) was on the allowed breakfast list I gave that a try for breakfast yesterday. I got that headache almost immediately. Back to omelette. I shall not do toast again but I do seem to be ok with porridge.
Clearly not all the advice given works for everyone. However since the GP practice could have given me several months headstart on handling my condition and the diabetes nurse started extolling the virtues of the newcastle diet as soon as she gave me the news I am diabetic (and prescribed statins without discussing drugs to handle diabetes) Diabetes focused Desmond is better than the GP.
Judging by my belt I have lost at least an inch since going no carb, no alcohol and eschew community cakefests (well except the day there was plum vodka cake, double ginger and choc hob nob). So the Desmond concept of reducing 100 calories a day by diet or exercise is a lot better than the suggestions from the practice. In case you are wondering 100 calories a day equals 12 lb a year and we got to hold the sack of potatoes represented by that weight.
Hope this helps your decision Tony. I shall close now but recheck this page after next Wednesdays meeting so if you do want an update give me a heads up. Otherwise Bye. All the best
scooby2
Active Member
Hi , I don't usually post but thought I would share my experience. Although I didn't get a great deal from the course I met a stranger on it 2 years ago and we became mates. We meet every 6 to 8 weeks and keep each other on track with what we eat and share ideas. This has be so valuable and worth the 2 day course.
