Hi there

[RTC]

A very interesting site with a lot of information.

I was diagnosed at the end of February after going to the doctors with what I thought was a urine infection. He tested the water sample and revealled that there was sugar in it!. I was not really that surprised as I had been drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot. My BGL at the surgary at that mid afternoon was 18.5...... my blood pressure was 168/102 (not surprising) and weight was 17st 3lb, and at 6ft 1, put me into the Obese BMI level
He immediately put me on Metformin 500g twice a day and gave me this website address (although it might have been the .ORG one and I found this one instead) and told me to cut out fruit juice (which I very rarely ever touch) and added sugar.

I carried out some research, as being suspected of having type 2, which is rife in my mothers side of the family I wanted to find out more about it from a personal level and to find out what advances had been made in the field. - Not much in the UK is really the answer.

I checked this site and a lot of the dietary advice appears at odds with the current NHS thinking, but having 'done the Atkins thing' many years ago, I knew that the low carb diet approach would work for me, so I started out on this path.

My DN at my first visit was horrified "you MUST eat starchy carbs"..... No I replied, I will not, she was disgusted and after handing me a few stapled together pages of diabetes 'advice' which was very poor and delivering my first HBAc1 results (90) and Cholesterol 5.2, couldn't wait to get me out of the surgery. Is this common?

Well its now the end of march and my weight following the LCHF diet is 16st 0lb, (no longer Obese, just overweight ) and my BGL levels which I have been checking daily have stabilised, morning 6.1 - 7.2 and I am keeping a constant level of below 7.8, 1 hour after meals and below 6.6 two hours afterwards. So hopefull well on the way to avoiding the nasty complications.

Just to say thanks for all the information

 

[dawnmc]

Brilliant news, well done. Its sad really that the 'powers' that be are so out of touch. We say it over and over on this forum. If only the health care 'professionals' looked on this site, there might not be so many stories of amputations etc.

 

[moonchip]

Hello RTC

Welcome to what I feel is THE friendlist site on the web for those with diabetes with many people who willingly offer advice & suggestions

Your experience with your DN was almost identical to mine. When I said I'd not be following NHS dietary advice, would be doing the Newcastle Diet (which my GP agreed to me trying) and asked her why I'd want to load by system with carbs which would turn to glucose she became comically defensive and could only answer with "thats what the NHS guidelines state" !

I too started in the BMI obese category but am working hard to correct this

To be honest, I find the guidance and experience of those on here with far more 'D' experience than me to be worth its weight in gold

The NHS is an impressively fine, world class service which we should all be proud to have; yet it is also a massive 'animal' and for it to change direction it suffers from the same disadvantage of any similar large organisation. I'm sure it will get there eventually, its just slow to do so.

Thankfully for those of us - and you - who are proactive about our own health we now have the ever evolving, instantly changing internet. A massive depository of instant information like this forum where like-minded folk can share tips, experiences and suggestions worldwide - and instantly !

So jump on in. Get involved. Post & ask questions. Make new friends.

Very best wishes to you as you join us all on this new journey and welcome to as one contributor puts it "the club which no one wants to join" !

Don't feel low or confused, or guilty. You are where you are and we've all been there - and others are yet to arrive.

But you're NOT alone - strength through unity we'll all work together to achive the best we can for ourselves and help others along the way

 

[RTC]

Thanks Guys, I did have a good look around the site before becoming involved and as you say, it all looks friendly with good advice, more than can be said for the NHS. I have another blood test booked in for just after Easter, so it will be interesting to see the results, I am expecting to see improvements.
As for the NHS it used to be world class, but I feel that the 'experts' are conducting a 'rear end' covering exercise, as all of the research that I am seeing both in the US and Scandanavia is now contradicting it, and only that 'sponsored' by the pharmacutical companies puts a different slant on it, well he who pays the piper calls the tune I guess and they dont want to lose any of their profits do they....

I have been booked onto a course in May, its titled "Type 2 Diabetes Education Conversion Maps"
I cannot seem to find any reference to it on this site, but having looked at the local hospital website I have viewed the course material, and guess what, its sponsored by Lilly Diabetic, a pharmacutical company, and yes it advocates a high carb diet, and keeping your blood levels low - it cites below 8.5, which according to US research is too damm high. Someone cynical might say that they are trying to keep us ill to maximise their profits.

Do you think that I will get thrown out as a disruptive influence, or made to stand in the corridor until the end of the lesson.......

 

[Daks]

Personally I think there are some real pioneers on this forum, among the best advice you'll receive anywhere in the world. Hardened diabetics sharing data constantly, only a fool would ignore the advice given here.