I saw the diabetic nurse today...

xgemmiex · Nov 13, 2014

This was the first appointment after diagnosis, so I've had a couple of months to get my head around it all.

I told her I was following LCHF and she instantly mentioned that could be bad for cholesterol.. never mind that my cholesterol was fine at diagnosis.

I mentioned that I bought a meter and test frequently to see how food affects levels and I am disappointed that I'm still averaging over 10 and most often 13 or more. She changed my Metformin to 2 a day (so hopefully numbers will decrease now) and then told me I was obsessive and shouldn't test so much!! How would I have known - how would SHE have known my levels if I hadn't been testing?!

She thought Weetabix was a good breakfast, but that raised my very high *shakes head*

I didn't really expect anything else after reading on here so I let her have her say and nodded when necessary lol. She's making an appointment with a dietician and then said I'd be able to tell her a thing or two.. You bet I will!

My HbA1c was high - 114 - at diagnosis and I'm really excited to see what it is when I can be tested again. She thought this was weird too.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful advice and recipes so far, it's been quite a journey already but I'm definitely in a positive frame of mind.

Thank You all.

Eurobuff · Nov 13, 2014

I told my diabetic nurse that Weetabix shot my BG up, and she said she couldn't understand it either. They look at the "What turns to sugar" value which in my experience is incorrect. Next time you see her ask her if she thinks a chocolate eclair is Ok. When she gasps in horror, then tell her that Tesco's frozen Eclairs have less sugar in them than a Weetabix. Re the testing, I was told the ten strips I was given was enough for me to work out what I could and couldn't eat! She did eventually give me a prescription for a tub of 50 though.

Re LCHF. I am following that, at diagnosis my hba1C was 7.9, my total cholesterol was 6.4. 5 months later, my hba1c was 5.5, my total cholesterol was 5. I am taking chromium, which apparently reduces cholesterol & BG, so not sure if that has anything to do with it.

KELI · Nov 14, 2014

I've been told by my now x-dietitian that she won't support me if I go below 130g carbs a day!

As for self testing, it's logical, if you don't test you won't know what foods are affecting you. Unfortunately the NHS consider the supply of test strips too costly therefore make up dumb ass excuses like "your obsessing" and "you don't need to test as you can't have a hypo on diet alone".

In my humble opinion, It's only natural to "obsess", it's your life and your body which is going to be damaged and short lived if you don't obsess, and yes you can have a hypo on diet alone especially if you're ill and taking medication!

Sorry, I'll get off my soap box now .

KELI · Nov 14, 2014

Eurobuff said:
I told my diabetic nurse that Weetabix shot my BG up, and she said she couldn't understand it either. They look at the "What turns to sugar" value which in my experience is incorrect. Next time you see her ask her if she thinks a chocolate eclair is Ok. When she gasps in horror, then tell her that Tesco's frozen Eclairs have less sugar in them than a Weetabix. Re the testing, I was told the ten strips I was given was enough for me to work out what I could and couldn't eat! She did eventually give me a prescription for a tub of 50 though.

Re LCHF. I am following that, at diagnosis my hba1C was 7.9, my total cholesterol was 6.4. 5 months later, my hba1c was 5.5, my total cholesterol was 5. I am taking chromium, which apparently reduces cholesterol & BG, so not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Oooh, Tesco chocolate eclairs .... Will have to look out for those I haven't had a chocolate eclair for at least 9 years!

hornplayer · Nov 14, 2014

My DN told me to snack on pineapple and bananas ( both of which I'm allergic to ) and looked confused when I said that I eat low carb. I don't go to see her any more. Stopped Metformin because I got fed up with the diarrhoea, nausea and anxiety attacks. I feel LOADS better now. I've lost almost a stone in the last month having stayed static for over a year while taking Metformin, and there has been no change in my blood sugar readings. ( I buy my own test strips ) I'm afraid I've lost faith in my GP's practice.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

KELI · Nov 14, 2014

Well done on the weight loss.

Scouser58 · Nov 14, 2014

Hello xgemmiex, Eurobuff, KELI and hornplayer, the DN's we meet don't all seem to have a good knowledge base, so different information is given out. This I find is most confusing, have you been to see a diabetic specialist doctor yet xgemmiex? if your reading are staying high you may need extra medications to get better control. I saw a diabetic dietician and she had her own ideas, and when I mentioned this site she did not approve saying the red and black site, yes I said, you need to go on the Diabetes.org site, erm, what doesn't she like about this site, needless to say have not yet looked on the other site, so ttfn

Scandichic · Nov 14, 2014

hornplayer said:
My DN told me to snack on pineapple and bananas ( both of which I'm allergic to ) and looked confused when I said that I eat low carb. I don't go to see her any more. Stopped Metformin because I got fed up with the diarrhoea, nausea and anxiety attacks. I feel LOADS better now. I've lost almost a stone in the last month having stayed static for over a year while taking Metformin, and there has been no change in my blood sugar readings. ( I buy my own test strips ) I'm afraid I've lost faith in my GP's practice.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Did you try the slow release met? They make you try the normal version first as the slow release is so expensive but it might work for you.
Bananas and pineapple are loaded in fructose and 2 of the worst foods to eat. It's frightening that so many seem to be out of touch. I understand that they have to push the official line (healthy plate) but really?!

Kezzer4321 · Nov 14, 2014

xgemmiex said:
This was the first appointment after diagnosis, so I've had a couple of months to get my head around it all.

I told her I was following LCHF and she instantly mentioned that could be bad for cholesterol.. never mind that my cholesterol was fine at diagnosis.

I mentioned that I bought a meter and test frequently to see how food affects levels and I am disappointed that I'm still averaging over 10 and most often 13 or more. She changed my Metformin to 2 a day (so hopefully numbers will decrease now) and then told me I was obsessive and shouldn't test so much!! How would I have known - how would SHE have known my levels if I hadn't been testing?!

She thought Weetabix was a good breakfast, but that raised my very high *shakes head*

I didn't really expect anything else after reading on here so I let her have her say and nodded when necessary lol. She's making an appointment with a dietician and then said I'd be able to tell her a thing or two.. You bet I will!

My HbA1c was high - 114 - at diagnosis and I'm really excited to see what it is when I can be tested again. She thought this was weird too.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful advice and recipes so far, it's been quite a journey already but I'm definitely in a positive frame of mind.

Thank You all.

Hi Xgemmiex,
Having tried to follow the NHS guidelines for diet without any success in reducing my blood sugars I kind of gave up for a while, then I came here and discovered all this wonderful knowledge and I bought a meter and started to test, and followed a LCHF diet... I've been doing this since August this year. And yesterday when I went for my annual check-up my doctor and the DN were amazed at my results - I now appear to be in control of this condition. I still need to loose a ton of weight but I now able to manage my BS.

So my advice to you would be take on board what they say - then eat to your meter. I think like me, you are going to be amazed when you get your next HbA1c test....its will prove to you how having the right information really can help. oh and just to prove your DN wrong... my cholesterol has gone down since I have been following a LCHF diet and testing...
Good luck - I know you can do it too

Eurobuff · Nov 14, 2014

KELI said:
Oooh, Tesco chocolate eclairs .... Will have to look out for those I haven't had a chocolate eclair for at least 9 years!

They also do mini Eclairs (2.9 total carbs each) and Profiteroles (similar carb content). It is just the frozen ones though

Eurobuff · Nov 14, 2014

Scouser58 said:
Hello xgemmiex, Eurobuff, KELI and hornplayer, the DN's we meet don't all seem to have a good knowledge base, so different information is given out. This I find is most confusing, have you been to see a diabetic specialist doctor yet xgemmiex? if your reading are staying high you may need extra medications to get better control. I saw a diabetic dietician and she had her own ideas, and when I mentioned this site she did not approve saying the red and black site, yes I said, you need to go on the Diabetes.org site, erm, what doesn't she like about this site, needless to say have not yet looked on the other site, so ttfn

I rang the "official' site up when I was first diagnosed. They told me I need to eat 14 portions of carbohydrates a day and that I wasn't eating enough sugar! They said I need to be eating 90grams of sugar per day!! Maybe she had shares in Metformin and NHS dentists

hornplayer · Nov 14, 2014

That is terrifying.

There is so much breathtakingly bad advice out there, and it's been followed for so long that it's little wonder there are so many health problems now.

I've lost patience I'm afraid.

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Eurobuff · Nov 14, 2014

hornplayer said:
That is terrifying.

There is so much breathtakingly bad advice out there, and it's been followed for so long that it's little wonder there are so many health problems now.

I've lost patience I'm afraid.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Same here. I only rang them to see if anything has been learnt since my mam's diagnosis in 2002, but they haven't. Back then other countries were all giving "sensible" advice and we weren't. Our country hasn't moved on it seems. It's interesting that other countries have progressed and are all giving different, correct advice. When I mentioned this to my DN, her response was you don't live in other countries you live here.

hornplayer · Nov 14, 2014

How unbelievably arrogant!

I don't think they like it when we don't hang off their every word. I'm sure there are some good, very good, even, medical staff out there, but I can't be doing with it.

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Scandichic · Nov 14, 2014

Eurobuff said:
Same here. I only rang them to see if anything has been learnt since my mam's diagnosis in 2002, but they haven't. Back then other countries were all giving "sensible" advice and we weren't. Our country hasn't moved on it seems. It's interesting that other countries have progressed and are all giving different, correct advice. When I mentioned this to my DN, her response was you don't live in other countries you live here.

Presumably you replied unfortunately yes - you moron! Nothing like a bit of xenophobia! It's what the Empire was built on! It's the same when you mention diet doctor!

Scandichic · Nov 14, 2014

hornplayer said:
How unbelievably arrogant!

I don't think they like it when we don't hang off their every word. I'm sure there are some good, very good, even, medical staff out there, but I can't be doing with it.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

We're British you know! Can't have Jonny foreigner advising us!

Except British nhs advice is erm out of date!

cold ethyl · Nov 14, 2014

I saw the diabetic nurse in town that ran my DESMOND course today - the one who told me to eat carbs and not test and refused to be tested herself. I've lost 4 st and she is still short and rather round.

Eurobuff · Nov 14, 2014

cold ethyl said:
I saw the diabetic nurse in town that ran my DESMOND course today - the one who told me to eat carbs and not test and refused to be tested herself. I've lost 4 st and she is still short and rather round.

I haven't been to Desmond yet. They rang with an appointment but when I said what I was eating, she said you're obviously doing your own thing, I'll write to your diabetic nurse to tell her. She said she'll put me on the back burner til next year. I also mentioned that I was going to the diabetes reversal talk in Newcastle which didn't go down well.

Scandichic · Nov 14, 2014

cold ethyl said:
I saw the diabetic nurse in town that ran my DESMOND course today - the one who told me to eat carbs and not test and refused to be tested herself. I've lost 4 st and she is still short and rather round.

Scandichic · Nov 14, 2014

Eurobuff said:
I haven't been to Desmond yet. They rang with an appointment but when I said what I was eating, she said you're obviously doing your own thing, I'll write to your diabetic nurse to tell her. She said she'll put me on the back burner til next year. I also mentioned that I was going to the diabetes reversal talk in Newcastle which didn't go down well.

Imagine in a years time....

I saw the diabetic nurse today...

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