Just seen the DN

Very well done on your achievements and doing your bit to ‘educate the professionals’! Keep up the good work!

Brilliant results, you must be walking on air!

Smashing result there fella! Keep up that fantastic work.

Brilliant results.

Coincidentally I also just had my first review since diagnosis with a different practice nurse. All good. Interesting conversations though.

She asked about my diet. I said I was eating very low carb. She asked about what I had for breakfast, lunch and dinner and raised eyebrows about the fact I routinely skipped either breakfast or lunch. Cholesterol testing was mentioned as I refused it at 3 and 6 months post diagnosis as I was actively losing weight. I explained why I had and she commented that all the meat and dairy was a concern. Eyebrows wobbled again when I said that depends it you believe 15% or less of diet contributes to cholesterol and how you viewed those figures in relation to risk anyway. We’ve agreed I’ll see where I’m at with it on the next test (I’m interested but unconcerned) but it’ll take a miracle to convince me of statin requirements regardless of results.

A somewhat concerning statement was made that type 2’s had insufficient insulin and losing weight meant the little we had went further. I asked surely most of us start with too much insulin but fail to utilise it due to insulin resistance and that weight lost helped inprove insulin resistance. Apparently the difference in those two statements is just “wording”. Me thinks it’s fundementally quite different in the implications for management options personally.

We discussed the merits of metformin, for some reason unknown as I am not on it nor need it at this time. I did ask how many patients at my surgery seriously attempt low carb. Apparently a few try it but most just want the drs to fix their diabetes with drugs. I asked if that was because they don’t realise how much difference it can make and that it is a real option for many. A muttered maybe. I asked if testing, even short term would demonstrate the point and she agreed it would and that they try. Some have asked about the Newcastle diet but her opinion was it was unsustainablelong term and at the end of it too many people fail to maintain control. I accept some people don’t want to make changes and are happy to take the medication route. But I think hcp’s do the public a disservice by assuming that about all patients and not providing sufficient clear and robust alternatives to enable informed choices.

So therefore I also asked about patient support groups at the practice and was advised to try the .org group as the practice had none. “The ones who recommend eating starchy carbs at every meal?” By now the shrugs had become accepting that the general advice and my viewpoint were at odds I think. Though a flicker of light is that just last week there was a meeting discussing peer support groups for various chronic illnesses including diabetes across the group of practices. I clearly said I would be very interested in such a group and more than willing to help start one. We’ll wait and see.

Major Buckmaster post: 2039634 said:

Thanks! I’m a female though lol.

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Ooops! Sorry, lass. I'm female, too so... Up the Lasses!

Brilliant reduction - and well done for "picking" a nurse that knows things.

No idea about the ulcerative colitis, but I have a feeling at the back of my limp brain that it is an auto immune condition - so that would tie in with T1.

Major Buckmaster said:

Thanks! I’m a female though lol.

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Guzzler said:

Ooops! Sorry, lass. I'm female, too so... Up the Lasses!

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Don't worry, @Major Buckmaster , @Guzzler won't forget you're a lass now . She's very thoughtful and friendly in gendering in her posts!

And brilliant results!

Major Buckmaster said:

One thing came up though since I have ulcerative colitis, theres a link to being T1

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Might that be because UC may be an autoimmune disorder, just like T1? Autoimmune problems often bring their friends, so having one makes having others more likely. Not necessarily though, and if your UC is autoimmune it won't protect you from T2 so without further testing and as long as you keep having those wonderful numbers I'd go with T2. But if your bg goes up by no reason it doesn't hurt to keep in mind you might be a slow onset T1, just like all diabetics.

Brilliant results @Major Buckmaster well done you!

Major Buckmaster continue to shine.

wooohooo! wow! congratulations