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Dodgy advice from GP

N

NatJS

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diabetes
When I was given my diagnosis at the end of February, my GP did briefly mention diet changes as a possible route, but told me these don't really work and that my only real option was to go straight for weight loss surgery. At the time I didn't know about diabetes.co.uk and knew hardly anything about diabetes at all, and until I found this site I kind of thought he might have been right. However at the appointment I did resist being referred for surgery as a few years ago a friend's partner was given the same operation and sadly died from complications shortly after, and I had previously read that it's actually pretty dangerous surgery with a high complication rate. Despite explaining this to my GP he really pressed hard to refer me for surgery and even said at the end of the appointment that he'd try to convince me again at my next one. He also said I don't need to test my blood sugar as this is only used for calculating insulin doses and not for type 2. Well in the weeks since then I've halved my fasting sugar level and lost quite a bit of weight, having fortunately found the diabetic nurse was quite open minded to testing and gave me a meter and test strips. Looking back, I can't quite believe the pressure that was put on me to have drastic, life altering surgery, and I'm actually pretty disappointed in my GP for offering it as a first line treatment without trying diet/exercise/metformin etc. Has anyone else had an experience like this?
 
I don't have any experience of that but I just want to say Well Done on all your hard work and all the progress you've made
 
Makes you wonder if the GP is getting a back hander from the surgeons', I used to wonder whether my old GP had shares in the local gym, as no matter what was wrong with us, broken leg or thrush he would say "Get more exercise, go to the gym".......DER..... bit of a plonker..........
 
I am glad you found the forum and hope your approaach carries on working for you! My dad is keen on the idea of baritric surgery following repeated diet failures as a type 2 and a belief that he cannot reduce his weight. He saw a programme on the topic of prejudice aginst obesity within the health service evinced by CCG/GP reluctance to refer patients for bariatric surgery even though they meet the NICE guidelines for it. Most patients who are advised to eat less and move more fail to do so in the long term (not because they are gluttonous sloths!) so it makes sense from the point of view of long term cost and reduction of complications of diabetes, to send them for the surgical option.
I think if more people were given advice on the kind of diets this forum discusses and fasting then there would be less need for bariatric surgery and all of the risks that entails. DR Jason Fung compares the merits of surgery vs low calorie or low carb or fasting approaches on You Tube if you need any further motivation- Good luck and well done for finding that route and I hope that your GP gives you the support you deserve.
 
And I thought my doc was a bit out of touch ...
But well done and many congrats on what you have achieved so far .. and for your positive attitude
 
NatJS said:
Well in the weeks since then I've halved my fasting sugar level and lost quite a bit of weight
Click to expand...

Your GP is an idiot and you have proved that lifestyle changes can help control BG very successfully. There is a type of person for whom surgery is the best route and you are not one of them, well done.
 
I have changed my diet and now see blood glucose under 7 most of the time - I can do things which disrupt that, but if I eat in the way which is now normal, I get low readings.
I am not losing weight but that doesn't seem to matter, despite what is believed. If you want to lower blood glucose just stop eating so many carbs, count and test, as different foods can have different results after eating the same amount of carbs - but for me it is just a no brainer.
Less carbs, less insulin, smaller waist (or in my case, equator) lower BG levels, more energy clearer thoughts, happy happy joy joy.
Only down side is when trotting around the supermarket collecting chicken and steak and mushrooms etc. and you feel your pants start to slide down so you need to double back and buy smaller ones - again.
 
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