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First meeting with Diabetes Nurse.

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,394
Location
Wrexham
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I had my first meeting with an actual Diabetes nurse today. She was very ice and explained lots of things. But I am confused about a couple of things which are the opposite of what I read here:

I have been told to have 180g of carbs a day spread out into 3 meals (40g each) and 3 or more snacks of 10 carbs for the rest.

I already know, from my own testing, that that will spike my bs levels.

I am allowed to test only once a day, on my fasting levels, but she didnt recommend it and doesnt think it will help.

And Diabetes is inevitably progressive so my 1 x Metformin plus 1 x stimvastin is just the beginning. I am to see her in 4 weeks for the next round of info and to step up my meds :?:

And just keeping to 180g of carbs is enough for my part of the treatment, they will do the rest with drugs and tests.

Oh, and my HbA1c was 6.5 not 7.5 apparently. So do I listen to her or what?

:crazy:
 
You have to do what you feel is right for you Lucy. Her 10g snacks x 3 are more grams of carbs than I eat in a whole day.
 
I'm afraid you may have just heard the sort of advice that so many on here complain about. The standard line of 3 starchy meals per day and there's no need to test.

My Diabetic Specialist would be appalled (thankfully). I would test as much as you need to to keep your levels below the magic 7.8 - if it doesn't help you feel better, lose weight and use less medication then there's always her method but in the meantime you won't have done yourself any harm.
 
Good point swimmer2

I can keep try it my way and, if it doesnt work, I havent lost anything by trying, have I?
 
I can't help feeling thay your diabees will indeed progress if you follow that advice Lucy but you must decide for yourself.
First of all I imagine that she will increase your metformin which is quiite usual.
and won' do you any harm. May even counterac the effects of her dietary advice -for a while at least.
Do yoou mind me asking if you have a lot of weight to lose or if you broached the subject of diet with her?

We al,l have to find out the best way to mange for ourselves but you would surely not want to deliberately spike your levels.?
I am sure you must be confused as many others have been .
Oe test a day on your fasting levels will not tell you which foods you should avoid.Presumably you have been prescribed some strips? Maybe you can buy some extra and keep a food diary wih your readings so that you know which foods to avoid and which you can safely eat more of.

Don't panic. It all takes ime but only you can decide whether you want to follow the nurses advice or take some control yourself.
 
Lucy
I think it highly unlikely you will have an HbA1c of 6.5% on that diet without increasing your medication.
AND diabetes is definitely NOT ALWAYS progressive.
I've met people who have progressed to Insulin inside 5 years, but I haven't progressed my T2 at all in 10. I've improved my eyes, which had some retinopathy at diagnosis almost 10 years ago and I have NO other signs of progression. My Hb A1c has been in the 5s for years
Read David Mendosa on-line. He's T2 and has got himself off all medication and keeps well on diet and exercise.
Hana
 
Lucy

The point is can you actually eat 180g's of carb's per day?

I sure couldn't eat that much... I used to struggle with 130g a day now our days I eat what I want..

I would measure your cabs, see what your appetite is telling you,

The eating plan of 3 meals, and a couple of snacks a day, is a good one steady eating pattern will help towards steady BG's... Just decided on your appropriate carb levels
 
I have 8 stones to lose

I lost 7lbs in total over 4 months Nov-Feb this year, before low -carbing at around 80-100g a day.

March to Mid-April I have lost another 15 lbs low-carbing.

If I follow this diet she has now given me, I know I will stop losing weight, and probably put some back on. I cannot eat that much carbohydrate. I just cant.

To be honest, I thought you guys were exaggerating the problems with the NHS diet a bit. But you are not. It is impossible to lose weight and keep my bs levels good on it.

I wonder what private doctors recommend and if they toe the NHS line too. Anyone here go to a private GP?
 
Lucy
fairly recently, a study on published diets was done; in California Ithink. you might be able to find it on-line. I forget the URL.
However in comparing the diets, The things looked at were: effectiveeness in weightloss, effect on blood chemistry, eg cholesterol, attrition [ drop-out] rate. there were others, but I don't remember all the details. what I do remember is the result. The most effective diet in all ways was..... ATKINS!!!!
the phases of Atkins, which contain green leafy veggies, are just about perfect for a low carb diabetic. It works to control bg as well as being effective for weight loss and good for cholesterol etc. And it's easier to keep to for prolonged periods.
If you have a lot of weight ot lose, it's worth your while to try it. It is safe[even though some people will try to tell you it isn't]
Dr. Atkins was a cardiologist who developed the plan for his very sick heart patients.
Good luck with low carb. It's the only thing trthat works if you don't want to rely on lots of medicstion. Much of which causes weight gain
Hana
 
Hello Lucy

I too would not be able to eat 180g carb per day, it would mean me putting on weight which I dont need to do and also I would need to increase my insulin to cope with it all.

I take it that your DSN doesn't know that carbohydrate eaten in excess leads to weight gain?? How does she expect you to lose weight if she wants you to increase your consumption of carb? I'm baffled to say the least..... Is she overweight herself??

If you carry on the way you are eating less carb and losing weight as a result, then that will be a good thing as you will also start to lose the resistance to your own insulin working for you.
 
She is about my weight, which is very fat.

I have just worked out that if I want to continue to lose weight, I need to keep under 1500 cals a say max. 180g of caebs is nearly half that at approx 700 cals. So no way can I lose wight following these diet guidelines.

Carbs: 700 cals
5 portions veg: 250cals
3 portions fruit: 150cals?
I pint milk or calcium equivalent: 300 cals
other protein twice a day: 400cals

total: 1800 cals minimum

And I am not buying low-fat anything!!! I will not eat processed foods stuffed with chemicals and suspect sugars.

Woah, this diet is bad!!!!!
 
Lucy, you will lose weight and improve your bglevels by reducing your carbs ,taking the metformin and increasing your exercise a little .#Hana and the ohers are otally correct.
You will find yourself with rising levels and taking more medication if you follow the Nurse's adice and she will have been responsible for your diabees progressing.
Don't thik of it as a diet but as a new lifesyle. The good thing about havinfg a fair amount of weigh o lose is that you can see results fairly quickly . As has been said above just losing weight will bring your levels down by reducing your insulin resistance. Its a win-win situation.
I think you will be really delighted at the improvement in your weight and levells just by reducing your carbs and increasing your exercise. Nothing strenuous , just walking is fine.
Don't worry about the nurse. She wont worry abou your diet if your levels atre improving and she will be very jealous at your weight loss.!
Good luck!
 


Why is it bad? If you listen to the advice on here, people are telling you to disregard your DSN (we all have) and stick to low carb as we all know that and not the NHS party line works. If you follow your DSN you will not be able to see your feet soon, A. you won't have any eye sight to see with B. You will be too fat to see your feet C. You won't have any feet to see anyway!

Sorry, this may sound harsh, but it's true.
 
Lucy, you need to do what works for you as regards diet. I had the starchy food lecture from the diabetic nurse and just ignored it and did my own thing. I've lost nearly 5 stone since being diagnosed last June. I'm never really sure if I low-carb or not, but I don't eat pasta, rice, bread or potatoes. The key for me is to do some exercise 45 minutes to one hour after eating. That reduces my sugar levels and also contributes to weight loss. I started by just walking a short distance as I had had a stroke and have built it up over the months to longer distances.
 
and if you need any other incentive Lucy, just look at Didie's HBA1c readings.. wish mine were like that
 
Defren

I meant the diet i was recommended today with half my calories coming from 180g of carbs a day is bad.

The low-carb diet I am now following from here is good.

Sorry, i tend to type and assume everyone is telepathic. i will get used to forum posting soon and be more clear
 
Thanks Swimmer I'm tussling with my stupid diabetes and I think I might have it in a head-lock at the moment. It's already tried to screw my life once and I'm not going to let it do that again.
 
Hi Lucy, once you have lost the weight and have a BMI in the normal or low overweight range and your insulin resistance has minimised you may well be able to tolerate 180g of carbs a day but until you get there I would stay doing exactly what you are as you are losing weight and controlling your bg, and the bottom line is 'if its working dont change it' :thumbup:

Your d nurse cant argue with your results can she?
 
+1 Sid

Bet any success you have your nurse will still claim the credit for it though!
 
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