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Gutted! UPDATE

Re: Gutted!

I was told to phone DN today for blood test results and I'd wanted to ask about referral. I was told she wasn't there but was given my HbA1c..... 7.4(down from 8.9) and cholesterol 5.5 (up from 4.something). I am very disappointed with those results. I started cutting carbs back about 2 months ago and my daily readings are near perfect now (testing 4 times a day at present). I had expected much lower test results and I'm disappointed that all my extra efforts have had such poor results. What AM I doing wrong?
Still no referral to a diabetic specialist, as I was told I have to wait until next Monday now, when I have asked to see D.N. again.Apparently only she can discuss referral.
 
Re: Gutted!

I would be sooo frustrated by that I would be camping in the surgery to see the doctor!!I really feel for you ,you must be spitting feathers by now!!
 
Re: Gutted!

You're right, Sue. It is driving me to distraction. We even enquired about changing to another surgery in town, that I know from another member on this forum, DOES refer patients to a diabetologist but they won't take anyone else onto their list. :(
I've made my mind up now though. I'm not giving in until I DO get referred. I just want to know what the hell I'm doing wrong (I seem to have cut so much out of my diet but still my Hba1c was not brilliant) and what I can do to rectify it.I also need to feel confident in the person dishing out that advice to me.
 
Re: Gutted!

chocoholic said:
I just want to know what the hell I'm doing wrong (I seem to have cut so much out of my diet but still my Hba1c was not brilliant) and what I can do to rectify it.
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Hi Twiggy,
Your HBA1C is an average of your BG levels over the last 3 months, but you haven't been low carbing for 3 months so that oldest month is bound to affect the average. Get the HBA1C done in 2 months time and I am sure you will see a huge difference. I wouldn't worry too much about the increase in cholesterol. In the research that Stanford Uni did a couple of years ago on low, middle and high carb diets, they found that in nearly every case the initial reaction on low carb was a raise in cholesterol, but after a year the cholesterol had fallen to well below the level it started at. At the end of the year's experiment it was the low carbers who experienced by far the healthiest cholesterol (reduced LDL and triglycerides and raised HDL), and the high carbers had the worst.
 
Re: Gutted!

Thank you Dennis and Sarah. I am really heartened by your comments.I'm especially interested in the cholesterol info. Dennis, as tonight I really started to wonder if low-carbing was worth it.
You see, this is the sort of thing only more experienced diabetics can tell me and now I shall stick at things with the hope that one day, I'll get to see and hear this sort of advice from a diabetes specialist too.
Have to go, something pink with a snout just flew past my window!!!! :D
 
Re: Gutted!

chocoholic said:
Have to go, something pink with a snout just flew past my window!!!! :D
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Was it this
flypig.gif
:?:
 
Re: Gutted!

I think we get Tamworths and Gloucester Old Spots round this way.
 
Re: Gutted!

I only bought Bernstein's book yesterday and just flicking through it in the car, I found a bit about neuropathy that heartened me.
It'll take me a while to plough right through Bernstein's book but it'll be nice to have it to hand.

Having flicked through "The Reverse Diabetes Diet" by Dr.Neal Barnard, (who also believes HE knows best) I realise when I've read them both I shall probably be even more confused than ever, as they seem to have totally differing ideas on what us diabetics should do. I think Barnard advocates a vegan/vegetarian approach to things and I'm surprised to see some recipes in the back that use sugar and of course, carbs. Hmm. Bernstein seems still pulling me at the moment.Has anyone had success following Barnard's guidelines?
 
Re: Gutted!

Well, I put on my assertive hat this morning (though still kept it polite)and finally, it looks like I may get a referral to a diabetologist!!
Firstly, the D.N. said she didn't know why I'd been prescribed the compression stockings last week and asked me my opinion of that.I told her it was not repeatable.
I then asked if I was correct in assuming there were tests that could be done to check out the neuropathy.She said I'm sure it is neuropathy but if that's the route you want to go down....Yes, please, says I.
I asked her then about seeing a Dr. Bodmer that I knew was the diabetologist for this area. Have you never seen him,says she?I haven't. I told her under the NICE guidelines, was I not correct in saying I was 'entitled' to see a diabetes specialist.She said she'd do a letter of referral for me but that I might not see him and that I might be referred back to the local PCT centre where it would just be D.N's again.She said you don't always get the things you should on the NICE guidelines. We shall see about that. I made it clear that I wanted to see a 'specialist' not a D.N. I told her with no disrespect to her, I had lots of questions for a specialist too and wanted expert advice about c-peptide,CIS oils, alpha-lipoic acid etc. and she looked at me and burst out laughing. "What?" She hadn't a clue what I was talking about and I just said "I rest my case."
I then asked for more test strips and she said "no,you're costing my budget too much". She was laughing as she said it but was already typing out the prescription.I told her it would probably be cheaper than treating me if I lost my leg and she said "that wouldn't be my budget that would be someone else's, so wouldn't be her problem." It's a good job I have a sense of humour. :D
Anyway,she said she was really pleased with last weeks blood test results and she printed them off for me. She said the cholesterol one was really good as the HDL level was 1.91 and the cholesterol/HDL ratio was 2.88.I know she says they are good but I don't have a clue if they are.
Please,can anyone refer me to a link that explains in plain mans English what the print out of my blood test results,in front of me, mean? Thank you.
I expect I'll have a 3 month wait to see the diabetologist but I won't be fobbed off this time.
I'll take my assertive hat off now and get down to some ironing.
I'd like to thank folk who gave me advice on how to handle this mornings appointment. It is much appreciated.
 
Thanks, Sue. I'd also like to know what the other figures mean on the blood test results to do with liver function and the serum electolytes? Not sure my lickle brain can take in so much info but I'm sure there is a link somewhere that must tell me what levels should and shouldn't be.
 
Thanks, Sue. Can't see the LDL level on my print-out, which is a shame but just noticed on closer inspection that in brackets after each measurment is what I presume to be acceptable levels of each thing. Oddly my cholesterol and HDL are the only two things out of the range, which leads me to think the D.N. is incorrect in saying my readings were good for those. :roll:
Ho hum.
 
You say you have the Bernsein book. In there you will find all the rqangess for all the numbers. I hope you have an English edition or a calculator
 
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