IanD
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,429
- Location
- Peterchurch, Hereford
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Carbohydrates
At the "Hounslow Cardiovascular Alliance" Meeting 28 May 2013 which is a diabetes support group - with mainly Indians present, the subject of diet came up. (NOT just from me!)
A speaker from "Diabetes Voices" (a DUK initiative) told about it & asked about local needs & concerns. Hounslow has a very high incidence of diabetes, with relatively little follow up, mainly because of the transient population. Heathrow is adjecent to Hounslow.
The session was mainly open discussion with the speaker.
The Indian diet was stated to be a significant part of the problem, with the practice of sharing the Indian sweets, & the basic diet of rice, chapatis naan, etc. My diabetic Indian friends consider that a low carb diet is not practical - all the carbs are part of their diet. At the meeting, many spoke of the importance & benefit of reducing carbs - they mentioned my talk a year ago.
The chairman reported a D screening visit to a gurdwara where the leader told him not to accept what he was told - those screened are likely to have eaten Indian sweets immediately before the blood test - of course they register diabetic.
The problem is not helped by the DUK literature, which stresses a 40-50% carb, low fat diet. They do acknowledge the possibility of a low carb diet - when challenged - but then say that diabetics are all different, & I should do what works for me. "All different" does not stop them giving the same (high carb, low fat) diet advice to everyone newly diagnosed. DUK - we trusted you - until the complications we were warned would come did come.
Diet advice from health professionals was recommended - diabetic nurses now must undergo specific training. I pointed out that most HPs get their training when young, & have no personal experience of T2 diabetes. Diabetes is a long term condition, & the affects of wrong diet take years to become apparent. I was told at diagnosis that diabetes was progressive - so when complications come, & medication increases, & you go on insulin, you haven't failed - it's the nature of the disease.
I suggested a helpful local initiative would be to survey group members & assess the level of control - how good control is achieved, etc. If I can organise within Diabetes Voices, it will be DUK initiative !
A speaker from "Diabetes Voices" (a DUK initiative) told about it & asked about local needs & concerns. Hounslow has a very high incidence of diabetes, with relatively little follow up, mainly because of the transient population. Heathrow is adjecent to Hounslow.
The session was mainly open discussion with the speaker.
The Indian diet was stated to be a significant part of the problem, with the practice of sharing the Indian sweets, & the basic diet of rice, chapatis naan, etc. My diabetic Indian friends consider that a low carb diet is not practical - all the carbs are part of their diet. At the meeting, many spoke of the importance & benefit of reducing carbs - they mentioned my talk a year ago.
The chairman reported a D screening visit to a gurdwara where the leader told him not to accept what he was told - those screened are likely to have eaten Indian sweets immediately before the blood test - of course they register diabetic.
The problem is not helped by the DUK literature, which stresses a 40-50% carb, low fat diet. They do acknowledge the possibility of a low carb diet - when challenged - but then say that diabetics are all different, & I should do what works for me. "All different" does not stop them giving the same (high carb, low fat) diet advice to everyone newly diagnosed. DUK - we trusted you - until the complications we were warned would come did come.
Diet advice from health professionals was recommended - diabetic nurses now must undergo specific training. I pointed out that most HPs get their training when young, & have no personal experience of T2 diabetes. Diabetes is a long term condition, & the affects of wrong diet take years to become apparent. I was told at diagnosis that diabetes was progressive - so when complications come, & medication increases, & you go on insulin, you haven't failed - it's the nature of the disease.
I suggested a helpful local initiative would be to survey group members & assess the level of control - how good control is achieved, etc. If I can organise within Diabetes Voices, it will be DUK initiative !