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Diagnosed with type 2 this morning..

I phoned my GP - apparently I'm waiting for an appointment to go on the DESMOND course. Does anyone have any feedback as to how good / effective this training is? Thanks in advance.

M12
I was diagnosed late summer. I had no symptoms, just went for my free health check as it was 6 years since I had seen my doctor and that was after an accident when I dislocated and fractured my shoulder. The fracture looked "a typical osteoporosis fracture", had a bone scan to confirm and the orthapaedic surgeon referred me to my GP. No bloods etc and no further GP visits. I was gobsmacked when my glucose was 11.6 and my HbA1c was 10.4. The diabetic nurse couldn't believe that I had absolutely no symptoms!

The Desmond day was OK but led me to waste 2 - 3 months doing what they said i.e. low GI foods (carbs OK in moderation but high GI ones!), cut out fat etc. I weighed 8 and 1/2 stones and am 5' 3" so was OK weight wise and now weigh 7 stone after cutting out fats and sugar so have recently joined this forum and learnt how to properly control my eating (very low carbs and highish fat) so hopefully my weight will stabilise and my glucose will get nearer normal. It has been a lot better than it was initially but not where it really should be. Wish I had not wasted the months I did doing the wrong thing!
 
Thanks very much for the insight Arab H. It's scary to a newbie like me that so many people inform that the NHS diet advice is not correct. What's a guy supposed to do?
 
Has anyone else here managed to see a specialist via health insurance? Is it worthwhile, or am i just replicating the service from GP? Any views are very welcome.

Only on a non-diabetic matter.
 
Thanks very much for the insight Arab H. It's scary to a newbie like me that so many people inform that the NHS diet advice is not correct. What's a guy supposed to do?
On this site there is loads of good advice, videos to watch etc. which all show the very low carb and high fat diets, you just need to take the time to research which I initially didn't have time to do; I now make the time as my future health depends on it.
 
Thanks very much for the insight Arab H. It's scary to a newbie like me that so many people inform that the NHS diet advice is not correct. What's a guy supposed to do?

Research and empower yourself. The NHS diet advice will, if followed, increase your blood glucose levels because of the carb content and lead you in the wrong direction away from good control. Drugs are then prescribed, which help a bit, but then you need more and more and likely end up on insulin. What we've done is to follow the practical experience on here of real T2 diabetics, go low carb and carry out empirical studies by self-testing to demonstrate to ourselves that eating carbs is the wrong way to go. By all means try it (NHS diet) for yourself, but it's easier to follow in the footsteps of success.
 
Thanks very much for the insight Arab H. It's scary to a newbie like me that so many people inform that the NHS diet advice is not correct. What's a guy supposed to do?
get a blood test meter and 'eat to your meter' anything that spikes you above a 2mm rise after 2hs, reduce the amount of carb
 
I get results of my biochemistry sent to me by post after seeing my Diabetologist. Blood glucose readings I do 4 times daily. Just ask you DN to give you the figures or they might write it down for you. If you ask for photocopies/printouts they will probably charge you. Hope this helps.
@eddie1968 @Monday12 If you live in Scotland, you can access your results online by registering here http://www.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk
 
Cheers Avocado. Yes that is where the results come from. Good to know I can access them online. Thank you.
 
@eddie1968 @Monday12 If you live in Scotland, you can access your results online by registering here http://www.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk

Also, if you live in England, some practices have them on-line at Patient Access. You have to get a password from your practice and sign a consent form and provide some ID, but once registered you can see your records. Some practices aren't signed up for it yet. Currently I can book appointments and repeat prescriptions, and can see a list of all the vaccinations I've had since time immemorial. (my first one was in October 1948 believe it or not!!!!) My blood tests and other medical tests will be there by March 2015.
 
@eddie1968 @Monday12 If you live in Scotland, you can access your results online by registering here http://www.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk

Thanks for this Avocado, I've registered so once they conformed and activated I should be able to get to see my records online. Should be interesting. When my GP gave me my diagnosis I could see a screen full of figures over her shoulder, none of which she detailed, other than to say that everything was OK except the 11.5 BC reading.
 
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