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Desmonds, worth it?

Ross.Walker

Ross.Walker

Well-Known Member
Messages
291
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
sprouts, evil things
Hello

Seeking opinions/views as I have been given a desmonds course 10 months diagnosis, shocking timescales but that is not for discussion, the question is will I learn anything I have not done in the last10 months from trial/error/reading and keeping the faith?

What do you lovely lot think?

Hugs
 
Has to be your choice I was offered it, but chose not to as I didn't feel it was the right way forward for me, with Persistence , I found my way with faith, trust and belief in this forum and Anthony William Medical Medium. So up to you really ️
 
Waste of time all they do is push the nhs eat well plate and any thing else is wrong and you must eat carbs and not eat fats
 
I'm in Canada so don't have this course but from the nurses to the doctors and the pharmacists, all have said that it is vital that I have grains in my diet. Even after seeing how successful I have been with out.
I was told by the diabetic nurse that this is a progressive disease and not to feel bad when I need to go on insulin.
Funny thing though,when my Chrioprater asked how I've lost the weight, and he said "yes it would seem that we have been misinformed about what makes us fat"
In my experience change was hard for me and can only imagine how much more difficult it would be for professionals who have been taught this for years. Takes courage to stick your head above the crowd.
 
I think that's the course I'm doing on 18th October. Full day, meet with a diabetic nurse practitioner, take a packed lunch?

I can't wait.

I'm expecting an argument as I'm going to be very up front about what I'm eating. My packed lunch will also reflect my low-carb status. I presume that sustenance is not the only reason I've been told to bring one.
 
It was useful for me as I got a cancelled place within a week after being diagnosed. I was scared stiff and it was reassuring to hear that my toes weren't about to fall off!
But I have learnt more from this forum. If you have a day to spare it might be worth going, but you probably know more already than you will be told there.
 
I went on the desmond course 2 years ago. My honest opinion, what a waste of time. It was all about eating everything.. If did that then my levels would still be sky high.
 
I can only vaguely remember the Desmond course, as my memory is dreadful, but it seemed to be all about being aware of calories, not carbs. Fruit was good, of course!!! The EatWell Place, since amended (to what advantage?) was very much taught as what to aim for.

For me, it did nothing but that was mainly because of my bad memory but also because it just didn't seem 'logical' to me so I merely endured the time and was pleased when it was over. All the leaflets etc were kept in a corner for a long time before being thrown out
 
It was superb. Perhaps the staff made the material work. They were positive and fun.

I would suggest it is worth the time. They did mention carbs but were pragmatic about portions relative to your needs.
 
I only did half the course as I thought it was pretty rubbish. It was aimed at the lowest common denominator and used toys/props to help teach. I found it very frustrating.

I did a carb counting session just this Friday gone. Not once was a healthy target for carbs mentioned. One chap had 18 carbs for breakfast and another over 40, yet nothing was said apart from matching insulin to carb intake. It was about carb counting I suppose, but frustrating that no info was given about carb amounts.

I wish there was more support in this area, I would love to be able to chat to folk and do activities. Much like this forum, but on a more personal level.
 
I went along to one, seven months after diagnosis and doing a lot of learning for myself, but walked out after ten minutes when it became abundantly clear I was going to learn nothing new, that it was going to aimed at those who knew nothing, and the whole tone was both intrusive and patronising.

They tried to convince me to stay, but had to admit when I could reel off how much I had learnt, that the only reason I'd be staying would because "You'd be such an encouragement to the others." I pointed out if I was giving up a Saturday in term time, it was to be for MY benefit not other peoples!

They also wanted a massive form filling in with far more detail than I was prepared to give to anyone other than my GP to record weight, blood pressure and other facts. Details of "how this makes me feel" are NOT, in my life, to be shared freely unless I chose to. Definitely not if it's forced on me.

It might have been useful if I'd not already learnt a lot.
 
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