Monitoring Diabetes on 2017

@Erin I see my consultant enough. There is only so much health practitioners can do.
Diet should receive more support but the right advice, would help. Consultants can only use test results and drugs and referrals to support your care.
The hard work has to come from us.

Erin said:

As diabetes is an "epidemic" in the past few years, and there are so many aspects needed to control it, I sometimes wonder why we don't have diabetes clinics where patients can visit more frequently and diabetes specialists can monitor the right treatment and prevent complications.

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Hi Erin, I agree with you but i suspect the NHS would probably say it's too expensive and patients get better treatment if they are seen by their local GP practice. I did not see the diabetic nurse until nearly 4 months after diagnosing, they have only taken blood and put me on metformin. Yes they sent me to Desmond but that's it, no visit to a dietitian on how to deal with carbs, or that they are worse than anything you can eat. No info on testing BG so I know the amount of carbs and foods my body can or can't deal with. Learning more in this site than from my GP services.

Hi Erin,
I'am relatively new to all this (3 months in) but I consider myself to be very lucky in comparison to some as there are two diabetic nurses at my clinic, they both seem really nice and very knowledgeable. They sorted out the podiatrist, retinography scan and the Desmond course for me at the first appointment I had, I was already seeing the dietitian for weight loss so that just continued. I had my first diabetic nurse appointment within two weeks of diagnosis and a second one two months later. I see them again in February. I guess it's pot luck and depends where you live and what surgery you belong to as to what kind of service you get.
It's a shame that not everyone receives the same standard of care. I expect the amount of appointments will drop off soon as I get more used to and know better what I'm doing but at the moment they are being very supportive. Which I'm very grateful for.
I don't feel it is necessary for everyone to

Erin said:

As diabetes is an "epidemic" in the past few years, and there are so many aspects needed to control it, I sometimes wonder why we don't have diabetes clinics where patients can visit more frequently and diabetes specialists can monitor the right treatment and prevent complications.

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I'm not diabetic but in the danger zone - morbidly obese, over 50, sedentary lifestyle. I understand what you're saying but would be more in favour of a massive change to what is now considered a 'healthy' diet. The Eatwell Plate, really? Let's think about prevention by cutting down carbs and increasing fats. Carbs turn into sugar in the blood. Seriously, why would anyone suggest a carb-heavy diet to someone with T2 or obesity?

kittypoker said:

I'm not diabetic but in the danger zone - morbidly obese, over 50, sedentary lifestyle. I understand what you're saying but would be more in favour of a massive change to what is now considered a 'healthy' diet. The Eatwell Plate, really? Let's think about prevention by cutting down carbs and increasing fats. Carbs turn into sugar in the blood. Seriously, why would anyone suggest a carb-heavy diet to someone with T2 or obesity?

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Usual diet advice is Low fat, lots of servings of bread, pasta, rice etc.... just absolute insanity. This is the sort of advice that turns people into diabetics... let alone be pushing it to diabetic. And part of the reason why people can lack faith in diabetic clinics, dieticians, doctors etc imo. There are just no grounds for this approach for me personally.

Tophat1900 said:

Usual diet advice is Low fat, lots of servings of bread, pasta, rice etc.... just absolute insanity. This is the sort of advice that turns people into diabetics... let alone be pushing it to diabetic. And part of the reason why people can lack faith in diabetic clinics, dieticians, doctors etc imo. There are just no grounds for this approach for me personally.

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I suspect that obesity and T2 have a common root, don't know what it is but dependence on a carb-heavy diet for energy when ketosis works just as well applies to both. Question everyone, make sure you're doing what's right for you and keep researching. Be happy with all your decisions.

Erin said:

OK - nutrition is very important and I see that we now have Dr. Unwin, on the board for advice.

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My understanding, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that Dr. Unwin has been a member for some time but can't give specific medical advice here.

Erin said:

It is a mystery that there are so many diabetics now.

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It's not a mystery. Since the late '60's, early '70's we've been told that a high carb, low fat diet is healthy and will assist in weight loss. It doesn't. It really, really doesn't except in the very short term. Think about it - eating carbs provokes an insulin response, any leftovers are laid down as fat for future starvation times. Which will never happen in our prosperous times.

A high carb diet results in the body being flooded with insulin, leading to insulin resistance and, voila!, obesity and T2. Okay, this is a major over-simplification which doesn't apply to everyone but works to keep me in ketosis.

Erin said:

Hi HohnJoe13, it is very helpful to get information here. I just wonder whether the diabetic "epidemic" which has never been so widespread on the globe is well treated.. And though some countries have the resources to help people, others do not. I just thought that governments could open up small clinics where people in need could go. It is a mystery that there are so many diabetics now.

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I think you are right and specialist clinics for diabetes would help, especially if it's heading towards epidemic proportions here in the UK. If this is so then given for the past 10 years the powers that be all over the country have centralised many medical service it would make sense to do it with this as well. This way we all get the same and are not dependent on how big or how much money our GP has which decides on how much resource they will put into diabetes treatment.

Can't peak for other countries so I don't know about how they allocate resources for diabetics, although I'm sure in the U.S the patient may get good services & treatment but and some cost to themselves.

kittypoker said:

My understanding, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that Dr. Unwin has been a member for some time but can't give specific medical advice here.

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Correct on both counts.

Erin said:

Hi HohnJoe13, it is very helpful to get information here. I just wonder whether the diabetic "epidemic" which has never been so widespread on the globe is well treated.. And though some countries have the resources to help people, others do not. I just thought that governments could open up small clinics where people in need could go. It is a mystery that there are so many diabetics now.

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@Erin I understand your upset/frustration at how badly diabetes has been tackled.
I can honestly say western diet does have to take the brunt of the blame. In 1970s my gp didnt detect type2 in a child, no tests or any mention of diabetes when i have clear signs and symptoms.
It is a different world now. I guess we should be thankful its being picked up unlike the 70s in the uk.
Diet is a bigger portion of treatment needed than is explained or emphasised. Diet treatment does need revising, for sure!