I am doing the diet, with my GPs agreement, though I wouldnt say she was particularly interested in the process; the attitude was more 'It's worth a try- come for a blood test 2 weeks after you finish'. I envy those who have good HCPs who take an interest rather than preferring to throw pills at the situation. My Gp wanted me to go on metformin because a study showed that early intervention 'was a good idea' but she couldnt say why this was so, or tell me what effect the combination with my anti epilepsy medication would have. I have friends/family who have:-
1. Had a BP check, been told it was too high and to take a prescription for meds with the comment 'Youre on this for life' and an abrupt dismissal of an inquiry as to whether diet/excercise/lifestyle changes could do the trick with a comment that those never last- better to take the pills. The person in question invested in a BP monitor, had several weeks of normal readings and was told by a different doctor that it was either a fluke or 'white coat BP' and not to worry. Good job she didnt just take the prescription and do as she was told.
2. Lost a lot of weight, getting skeletal, and recieved a snap diagnosis of bulimia/anorexia from the GP, followed by a curt phone call from the same person several hours later telling them to go to the local hospital, it was T1 diabetes according to the blood tests, and the hospital would sort it out. This person has had very little help to sort it out from the GP, consultant, nurse or dietician, all of whom parrot the 'eat carbs' mantra- now overweight and having too many hypos. Supposedly on the waiting list for DAFNE, but has recently discovered that it isnt available in that health authority area, something which the consultant who supposedly added the name to the list should surely be aware of.
3.I'm sure there are good HCPs out there- I considered my old GP, now retired, to be one. Years ago when I moved to the area and signed up with him he took one look at my zombie like state and the dose of 1600 mg carbonmazepan per day that my ex consultant neurologist had me on and gradually reduced it to 200mg with a massive improvement in quality of life and no ill effects for 2 years. The ex consultant worked on the basis that as long as the tests showed that the liver was coping, just jack up the dose another 100mg per day, whatever the other effects on the patient. Eventually it stopped working and we had to go back to the drawing board, but at least I felt as though I had a voice in the process.
( We all live in different areas of the country so this isnt confined to one place)
I don't think it is remarkable or surprising that some of us are reluctant to take the HCPs word as gospel and I don't regard a healthy scepticism as foolhardy, especially when faced with individuals who either cannot or will not answer reasonable questions about the treatment proposed.