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Just Been Sequestered Onto A Desmond Course

OK folks...I got through to the other side, mind and body in tact:)

Surprisingly it was more positive than I expected, which is not to say it did not have its challenges.

1. 6 hours of team teaching with two specialist NHS educators (both ladies).

2. Emphasis throughout on getting us thinking, responding to lots and lots of questions

3. Several team (group of 10) test tasks getting us to think together.

4. Thankfully no Eat Well Plate or the Pyramid. Thank the Lord:)

5. Fairly big emphasis on carbs being the root of the T2 problem and how important it is to limit and restrict these to limit insulin resistance. Not bad ... They would not support LCHF, but I was comfortable with what seemed to be a modified position following the recent NOF, PHC etc... Of which they were both aware.

6. OK on blood testing if Doc prescribes, but more emphasis on 3 monthly HbA1C as being the gold standard and essential as a regular test.

7. Cholesterol instruction ok, broke down and explained each component, but poor emphasis on LDL... No idea about Subfraction Profile.

8. Fats: worst part of the day, totally towed the party line on Saturated Fats being the "demon from Hell"...haha:) I graciously raised research and recent media and was backed up by an observing DN, but she was slapped down...so no wins on this:)

So overall, not a waste of time, reasonably interesting, certainly an improvement from what I've heard of the usual DESMOND format, but some way to go on cholesterol and especially saturated fat.

Tired now:)!


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

15/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 66, 11st 5lbs, waist 30", PWV 7.0. Lifelong migraines and hay fever gone.

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting.
 
KevinPotts said:
OK folks...I got through to the other side, mind and body in tact:)

Surprisingly it was more positive than I expected, which is not to say it did not have its challenges.
.
Click to expand...
Thanks Kevin for a full report. Very helpful.

I was invited to do the X-PERT course about 10 years after diagnosis when I reported my LCHF success. The dietitian wanted me there to encourage the newcomers! She allowed LC down to 130 g per day, & when I challenged the example of a high fat diet - a day's food included pies & pastry up to 4,500 Kcals - she said write to Trudi Deakin who is now a leading LCHF campaigner.

They DO listen & it does encourage the others to know we can keep well & maintain good control.

My newly diagnosed friend has been invited onto a DESMOND course, & is allowed a companion. I shall wear my "Real food rocks" T-shirt & advertise the Public Health Collaboration.
 
KevinPotts said:
OK folks...I got through to the other side, mind and body in tact:)

Surprisingly it was more positive than I expected, which is not to say it did not have its challenges.

1. 6 hours of team teaching with two specialist NHS educators (both ladies).

2. Emphasis throughout on getting us thinking, responding to lots and lots of questions

3. Several team (group of 10) test tasks getting us to think together.

4. Thankfully no Eat Well Plate or the Pyramid. Thank the Lord:)

5. Fairly big emphasis on carbs being the root of the T2 problem and how important it is to limit and restrict these to limit insulin resistance. Not bad ... They would not support LCHF, but I was comfortable with what seemed to be a modified position following the recent NOF, PHC etc... Of which they were both aware.

6. OK on blood testing if Doc prescribes, but more emphasis on 3 monthly HbA1C as being the gold standard and essential as a regular test.

7. Cholesterol instruction ok, broke down and explained each component, but poor emphasis on LDL... No idea about Subfraction Profile.

8. Fats: worst part of the day, totally towed the party line on Saturated Fats being the "demon from Hell"...haha:) I graciously raised research and recent media and was backed up by an observing DN, but she was slapped down...so no wins on this:)

So overall, not a waste of time, reasonably interesting, certainly an improvement from what I've heard of the usual DESMOND format, but some way to go on cholesterol and especially saturated fat.

Tired now:)!



Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

15/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 66, 11st 5lbs, waist 30", PWV 7.0. Lifelong migraines and hay fever gone.

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting.
Click to expand...

Very interesting, I was told at mine (also Cambridge area CCG) that there was no point in T2s testing unless they were on insulin as it "only makes people anxious". No-one on my course was on insulin, 4 of the group were testing and said how useful it was. We got the lecture about saturated fat as well! The DN running it was quite overweight, which was ironic as she kept talking about keeping your weight down. She also really annoyed me at one point by telling us that she had once had symptoms that suggested diabetes and so she had had the tests "and it turned out I wasn't - thank God" which I thought was really tactless and unprofessional.
 
IanD said:
Thanks Kevin for a full report. Very helpful.

I was invited to do the X-PERT course about 10 years after diagnosis when I reported my LCHF success. The dietitian wanted me there to encourage the newcomers! She allowed LC down to 130 g per day, & when I challenged the example of a high fat diet - a day's food included pies & pastry up to 4,500 Kcals - she said write to Trudi Deakin who is now a leading LCHF campaigner.

They DO listen & it does encourage the others to know we can keep well & maintain good control.

My newly diagnosed friend has been invited onto a DESMOND course, & is allowed a companion. I shall wear my "Real food rocks" T-shirt & advertise the Public Health Collaboration.
Click to expand...

Good for you Ian...champion the cause:)


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
TooManyCrisps said:
Very interesting, I was told at mine (also Cambridge area CCG) that there was no point in T2s testing unless they were on insulin as it "only makes people anxious". No-one on my course was on insulin, 4 of the group were testing and said how useful it was. We got the lecture about saturated fat as well! The DN running it was quite overweight, which was ironic as she kept talking about keeping your weight down. She also really annoyed me at one point by telling us that she had once had symptoms that suggested diabetes and so she had had the tests "and it turned out I wasn't - thank God" which I thought was really tactless and unprofessional.
Click to expand...

It sometimes quite incomprehensible what professionals can say. Wendy and Mary two skinny HCPs were lovely ladies:)


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
JohnEGreen said:
Probably not the best thing to say considering where she was and what she was doing. But I think in the same circumstances I too would thank God.
Click to expand...
So would I, JohnEGreen, but I thought it was very tactless of her to say it. I think I was already annoyed by the advice to everyone that they shouldn't test.

The upside, as @KevinPotts found, is that they are not promoting high carbs, and there was a lot about portion size which was useful.
 
TooManyCrisps said:
So would I, JohnEGreen, but I thought it was very tactless of her to say it. I think I was already annoyed by the advice to everyone that they shouldn't test.

The upside, as @KevinPotts found, is that they are not promoting high carbs, and there was a lot about portion size which was useful.
Click to expand...

Overall... Progress:)


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, BPM 85, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

16/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 6O, 11st 5lbs, waist 30", PWV 7.0. Lifelong migraines and hay fever gone.

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting, occasionally longer fasts.
 
Talking of progress the wife was telling me earlier that the diabetic unit at Kingsmill Hospital are now recommending carb reduction to their diabetic patients.

In fact an acquaintance of ours who is type 2 on insulin and whose blood sugar readings where regularly in the 30's was recommended by her diabetic specialist to go on a low carb diet and was pointed to this site.

In the past two weeks she has lost over 4lbs and her BG has dropped on average to 14
 
JohnEGreen said:
Talking of progress the wife was telling me earlier that the diabetic unit at Kingsmill Hospital are now recommending carb reduction to their diabetic patients.

In fact an acquaintance of ours who is type 2 on insulin and whose blood sugar readings where regularly in the 30's was recommended by her diabetic specialist to go on a low carb diet and was pointed to this site.

In the past two weeks she has lost over 4lbs and her BG has dropped on average to 14
Click to expand...

As Hannibal of the A Team used to say ..."I love it when a plan comes together" :)!


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, BPM 85, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

16/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 6O, 11st 5lbs, waist 30", PWV 7.0. Lifelong migraines and hay fever gone.

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting, occasionally longer fasts.
 
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