lucylocket61
Expert
Well, the presentation turned out to be by Diabetes UK, not a medical professional like i thought, and was completely awful. He read from a script, badly, got his words muddled up, couldnt pronounce some stuff, got insulin and glucose mixed up repeatedly and,in the end,proved to have said nothing useful or helpful. Diet was not mentioned except that "a good diet was a good idea" in passing.
He and his wife had been doing these presentations, according to him, for 4 years, had been on training days etc etc. He started by saying he was diagnosed type 2 in 2012 and was now on insulin. We were told nothing, literally nothing of any practical use.
He focused on the importance of annual foot and eye checks, but not why they were important, and said that eye check are no longer available on the NHS in England. He said a lot about complications and all sorts of garbled statistics were give, which didnt add up, or differentiate between type 1 or type 2. He clearly didnt understand what he was saying.
He stressed not going to the internet for advice, but to stick to what our GP, DN or Diabetes UK say and not go to any other website.
There was no mention of dietary advice except a passing mention of eating fruit and veg every day and getting lots of exercise. There was no presentation of how insulin, glucose or diabetes works and causes complication. It was a complete waste of time. It was all about how Diabetes UK is the only charity doing research for a cure, stressing the terrible complications awaiting us, and trying to get us to join or raise funds for Diabetes UK to do this life saving research.
At the end, he asked if there were any questions. I asked about the NHS adopting the new low carb recommendations. He said that had nothing to do with DiabetesUK, its up to the NHS in each country, and there are no plans for Diabetes UK to change their dietary recommendations.
Someone challenged him on fruit being sugars, so were the good for type 2 diabetics, and he said they were so slow acting they were not harmful to blood sugar levels.
Someone else asked about type 1 and low carbing and he said he didnt know anything about that, but dont believe everything you read on the internet (is that a stock phrase these days?)
Another person asked the difference between carbs and sugars and he said that sugars were sweet, and carbs were not, and thats why we should focus on good carbs.
someone else asked about the increased risk he mentioned for Asian and afrocarribean people, and he said it wasnt genetic, its due to the rice they eat. I am not sure about that reply, it could be right, but then, our huge western carb consumption should surely put us all at the same risk if there is one?
Blood pressure and cholesterol were not mentioned. In fact, very little except promotional stuff for the good work of Diabetes UK and how we can get involved and fund raise for them to find a cure from this dreadful illness was mentioned (I may have got a bit cynical at that point)
Bearing in mind that the audience was not diabetic specific. Its a group of about 100 retired people who meet once a month to discuss many things, or have talks.
The guy did say that his last presentation elsewhere for Diabetes UK, only 1 person turned up
I stood up. I raised my hand. I spoke my truth to these 100 strangers I had never met before in my life. I talked for a few mins about low carbing and the difference it has made to my life over the past 6 years. I mentioned this site as an example of good websites and forums. They were silent, listened to me, and I kept my words and tone respectful and factual. My voice shook, I shook. I went red in the face. But I couldnt let you guys down.
and they gave me a round of applause. I couldnt believe it.
Then another guy also stood up and said similar things to me, and about getting off insulin and feeling better. I wish I had had chance to speak to him at the end. It opened up a real discussion. Afterwards, several people came up and got this website off me, and thanked me for giving them a positive outlook on what they can do to help themselves.
The speaker sort of disappeared, with all his leaflets. The organisers thanks were focused on thanking them for coming, and the applause was sparse.
Oh, and he also said that 85% of type 2 diabetics are overweight at diagnosis, so putting on weight is a cause of type 2.
sorry for the essay. Off for a plate of bacon, eggs and a cuppa in the local cafe.
He and his wife had been doing these presentations, according to him, for 4 years, had been on training days etc etc. He started by saying he was diagnosed type 2 in 2012 and was now on insulin. We were told nothing, literally nothing of any practical use.
He focused on the importance of annual foot and eye checks, but not why they were important, and said that eye check are no longer available on the NHS in England. He said a lot about complications and all sorts of garbled statistics were give, which didnt add up, or differentiate between type 1 or type 2. He clearly didnt understand what he was saying.
He stressed not going to the internet for advice, but to stick to what our GP, DN or Diabetes UK say and not go to any other website.
There was no mention of dietary advice except a passing mention of eating fruit and veg every day and getting lots of exercise. There was no presentation of how insulin, glucose or diabetes works and causes complication. It was a complete waste of time. It was all about how Diabetes UK is the only charity doing research for a cure, stressing the terrible complications awaiting us, and trying to get us to join or raise funds for Diabetes UK to do this life saving research.
At the end, he asked if there were any questions. I asked about the NHS adopting the new low carb recommendations. He said that had nothing to do with DiabetesUK, its up to the NHS in each country, and there are no plans for Diabetes UK to change their dietary recommendations.
Someone challenged him on fruit being sugars, so were the good for type 2 diabetics, and he said they were so slow acting they were not harmful to blood sugar levels.
Someone else asked about type 1 and low carbing and he said he didnt know anything about that, but dont believe everything you read on the internet (is that a stock phrase these days?)
Another person asked the difference between carbs and sugars and he said that sugars were sweet, and carbs were not, and thats why we should focus on good carbs.
someone else asked about the increased risk he mentioned for Asian and afrocarribean people, and he said it wasnt genetic, its due to the rice they eat. I am not sure about that reply, it could be right, but then, our huge western carb consumption should surely put us all at the same risk if there is one?
Blood pressure and cholesterol were not mentioned. In fact, very little except promotional stuff for the good work of Diabetes UK and how we can get involved and fund raise for them to find a cure from this dreadful illness was mentioned (I may have got a bit cynical at that point)
Bearing in mind that the audience was not diabetic specific. Its a group of about 100 retired people who meet once a month to discuss many things, or have talks.
The guy did say that his last presentation elsewhere for Diabetes UK, only 1 person turned up
I stood up. I raised my hand. I spoke my truth to these 100 strangers I had never met before in my life. I talked for a few mins about low carbing and the difference it has made to my life over the past 6 years. I mentioned this site as an example of good websites and forums. They were silent, listened to me, and I kept my words and tone respectful and factual. My voice shook, I shook. I went red in the face. But I couldnt let you guys down.
and they gave me a round of applause. I couldnt believe it.
Then another guy also stood up and said similar things to me, and about getting off insulin and feeling better. I wish I had had chance to speak to him at the end. It opened up a real discussion. Afterwards, several people came up and got this website off me, and thanked me for giving them a positive outlook on what they can do to help themselves.
The speaker sort of disappeared, with all his leaflets. The organisers thanks were focused on thanking them for coming, and the applause was sparse.
Oh, and he also said that 85% of type 2 diabetics are overweight at diagnosis, so putting on weight is a cause of type 2.
sorry for the essay. Off for a plate of bacon, eggs and a cuppa in the local cafe.