Does This Sound Like Good Advice?

About two or three weeks ago I went to my GP for some results of routine blood tests. The GP said my blood sugar was the high end of normal and that I was prediabetic. The only other thing he said was that I should 'watch my diet'. I didn't ask any questions because my time was up and to be honest I was a bit shocked.

I saw my regular GP a week later and asked what to do about my diet. I am already on a low salt, low protein, low fat, diet because of other health problems. I only weigh about 8 1/2 stones having just lost about 10lbs through nausea and being poorly ( waiting to find out if I have M.E). I despaired at this new diet I would have to get to grips with. I asked what to do re foods. My GP just said swap all white carbs for brown, eat lots of fruit and vegetables and cut down on sugars and carbs.

I got home and realised that I was totally confused. With so many different components of my diet to watch out for, I am almost at the stage where food has just become a nasty word. I can't afford to lose more weight. My nausea is made better for eating actually but my IBS and acid reflux is playing up terribly right now. I am just snacking every 3- 4 hours. Then I read about the LCHF diet on here and worry about my kidney disease in my one remaining kidney. There seems to be mixed opinions about this for kidney disease so I am reluctant.

Obviously I can ask my kidney specialist when I see hime in three or four weeks time, but until then I admit to being totally confused. If I eat one thing I am harming a different physical complaint. Vegetables, whilst good for me are giving my horrendous wind and pain. I am also waiting to see a gastroenterologist to talk about this daily nausea and digestion difficulties. It's getting where I am almost scared to eat (nausea aside).

I am amazed that my GP said I will be tested again in one year! It's like I have been told and left to get on with it. I wasn't even given a pamphlet! I would have thought, given my diet difficulties already that my GP would have referred me to a dietician.

Who would you see privately if you were in my boat? Nutritionist? Dietician?

I'd welcome any thoughts on this.

Totto said:

Hi! Firstly I would get a bg monitor and test strips. High bg will damage everything so you want to keep bg normal and that is far from what is regarded normal at your GPs. So you need to test, mostly before and after meals to see what that particular food or combination did to your bg. Test before and every hour after until you bg is back to where it was. Good site on diabetes and normal bg is
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/16422495.php

You may want to reconsider the low fat part of your diet. We all know the low fat rage of the past decades that has lead the the diabetes and obesity epidemic. Low fat wont take you far. There is a host of new evidence there isn't anything wrong at all with fat, quite the contrary. Look at the science http://www.dietdoctor.com/science

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Thanks...all taken on board The low fat thing is because of my kidney disease, more prone to heart problems I was told so to watch cholesterol. Also I have ordered a meter and it should be here by Tuesday.

FergusCrawford said:

i have CKD 3/4 and my nephrologist was happy for me to stay away from low fat (in fact my eGFR is rising on the low carb diet, and I am safely on the CKD3 side of the border)

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Wow, that's good to hear. Thanks for letting me know. Theres nothing like actual personal experience of something. Hope your GFR continues to rise and I feel better about fats now.

Debmcgee said:

I totally know how you feel. I don't have the complications you do but was treated the same by two GPS and was shocked at the lack of support for a disease we can prevent. So short sighted.

I too have ordered a monitor based on recommendations here. It is the only way to know. Shame it's so costly but health is more important than money.

I hope you get some answers. It's a minefield!

X


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Thanks Imagine how many people are borderline diabetic and either don't know or who do know but are not even given good support or advice. Good luck with your meter. I am going to be posting some of my meter results some time soon, but I just realised it only comes with 10 testing strips and I will have to order more. Like you say it's money well spent at the end of the day.

Debmcgee said:

It's a disgrace. I know we are accountable to an extent but what about the food manufacturing process and bad advice that have added to risk factors?!

I'm a determined person but even I felt like giving up last week when my test came back the same as previous one despite cutting diet drastically. I almost feel scared of food which isn't good!!


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Know how you feel. Glad I found this site though because my GP gave me such flimsy advice really.

Sorry I didn't see this second page! Many thanks for your input. Much appreciated

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Sadly I had some blood tests done today and my GFR (kidney function) has reduced from 5.4 to 5.3 since eating differently. That doesn't mean it definitely is the LCHF diet but it is the first time it has gone down since I was diagnosed with kidney disease.

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Hi Deb. Long as it doesn't continue to go down

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