Diabetes Nurse referral

[Yanis]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the diabetic nurse or the GP can refer you to a Clinical Dietician Nutritionist?

Thanks,
Yanis

 

[Lamont D]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the diabetic nurse or the GP can refer you to a Clinical Dietician Nutritionist?

Thanks,
Yanis

Yes, they can.
If you get an appointment with your GP, the doctor is obliged to see a dietician.
However, if you have diabetes, read the appropriate forum on type and then ask your questions about dietary advice.

This forum supports low carb, higher fat, dietary lifestyle.

Why? Because it works!

 

[DCUKMod]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the diabetic nurse or the GP can refer you to a Clinical Dietician Nutritionist?

Thanks,
Yanis

Hi Yanis - What sort of diabetes do you have?

If your diabetes care is handled by your GP, then they can make a referral. If your care is delivered from a hospital, your hospital doctor or nurse could arrange something for you.

 

[Yanis]

Yes, they can.
If you get an appointment with your GP, the doctor is obliged to see a dietician.
However, if you have diabetes, read the appropriate forum on type and then ask your questions about dietary advice.

This forum supports low carb, higher fat, dietary lifestyle.

Why? Because it works!

My wife's got Type 1 and we were wondering if she could be referred to as she'll need some advise and training again to be able to get her HbA1c down.
Many thanks for your help
Yanis

 

[Yanis]

Hi Yanis - What sort of diabetes do you have?

If your diabetes care is handled by your GP, then they can make a referral. If your care is delivered from a hospital, your hospital doctor or nurse could arrange something for you.

Hi DCUKMod,
It's for my wife and she's got Type 1. Thank you so much for your reply, that is really helpful to know

 

[dancer]

As a Type 1 she is entitled to be referred to a hospital consultant. The hospital clinic can refer to a dietician, DSN, podiatrist etc. She could be offered a DAFNE course to help carbohydrate counting. I would not be happy under the care of my GP. Most of them know much less about Type 1 than Type 2 and they certainly know little or nothing about insulin pumps which I use.

 

[DCUKMod]

Hi DCUKMod,
It's for my wife and she's got Type 1. Thank you so much for your reply, that is really helpful to know

Perhaps your wife might benefit from joining in on the forum. There are many, many very experienced T1s who have walked the walk and worn out many a t-shirt (if you get my drift), so will usually have helpful hints for some of the trickier stuff.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

@Yanis as someone with Type 1, most of the advice I have received from a dietician is how to carb count. It is not what to eat and what not to eat as, with Type 1, it is possible to inject insulin to match the carbs that are eaten.
When reading forums as suggested above, please bear in mind that the majority (over 90%) of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This is a different condition with different dietary advice. It is easy to get drawn in to the low carb mantra. There are some people with Type 1 who find it helps them but there are also people with Type 1 who eat the same as "normal people" and maintain good diabetes management.

 

[Daibell]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the diabetic nurse or the GP can refer you to a Clinical Dietician Nutritionist?

Thanks,
Yanis

Be careful with any referral to an NHS dietician. Many dieticians don't really understand nutrition and follow PHE diet nonsense. Your wife would be best following the diet lifestyle advice on these forums. In general a low-carb diet is the best approach to avoid weight gain when on insulin. Some T1s can eat a fairly normal level of carbs and not gain weight (I'm not one of them). Always take account of the carbs being eaten and insulin dosage i.e. make sure your wife is 'carb-counting' her Bolus shots. Walk away from any one who talks about Calories just focus on the Carbs in the diet and what works for you. Fats and Proteins are not a problem.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Also pop onto Amazon etc for some good type 1 books such as:
Think Like A Pancreas
Bright Spots and Landmines
Both written by Americans but both are type 1 diabetics. There are also online carb counting courses that she might find useful e.g. BERTIE:
https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/
If she can get a freestyle libre
https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/
(blood glucose monitoring device without finger pricking) then doing a carb counting course like this will help her tick the boxes for a prescription entitlement as well as being a great tool to get an instant reading.
Finally Diabetes UK has a useful carbs guide:
Carbs and Cals which is a book or app with visual guides to commonly eaten foods. Ignore the cals part!
https://www.carbsandcals.com/

Personally I have chosen low carb to make my insulin dosing life a bit smoother. Blood sugars still imperfect but I eat better and feel very healthy!

Good luck...

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @Yanis ,

Type one is a lot easier said than done. Even from another T1. First point of call get a referral by her GP. (Start from the basics.)
If you wife is also willing to sign up here, she may find it possible to find her own balance & understand the differences with what works personally for her & what doesn't.. We are all indevidual..

Best wishes to you both..