I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic in March 2013, finding out as I had investigations for high blood pressure. I have done a lot of reading around the subject of diabetes and diet, and with exercise/ good diet have got my HBA1c down to 6.6, my cholesterol down to better than average, and normal blood pressure. Despite that my GP still wanted me on Metformin, which I have refused to do at this point. Apparently because "the protocol says" anyone with an HBA1c of of 6.5 or over has to be on medication, I was meant to go on it, for being 0.1 over the agreed limit, despite the fact I had got the level down from 16.5 since March!
Today I went to the diabetic session put on by my local health authority, and found myself in parts irritated by the flippancy and patronising approach taken. : No mention was made of the 15 point plan covering the points which should be available for every diabetic..... until I brought up the subject of counselling and the role that could play in helping some adjust to life with diabetes, it wasn't even mentioned. I know there is a lot of information to cover, and people need to know the facts but does everything have to be negative? For me to mention the increased risks of cardiac problems and strokes, retinopathy, and neuropathy made with apparent relish before even making any acknowledgement of the psychological impact this disease can have, is demotivating and totally uncaring. On one hand we were told it is a "chronic life long condition" , but no attempt was made voluntarily by the staff member to give any degree of emotional or psychological support.
No mention was made of the role of dietary supplements despite the evidence to suggest that multivitamins containing vitamin B can be helpful in preventing retinopathy and neuropathy, and no reading material other than Diabetes UK suggested. I am seriously thinking whether I should bother going to the podiatry talk tomorrow in case it is equally depressing. I am away to try and relax, rant over!
Today I went to the diabetic session put on by my local health authority, and found myself in parts irritated by the flippancy and patronising approach taken. : No mention was made of the 15 point plan covering the points which should be available for every diabetic..... until I brought up the subject of counselling and the role that could play in helping some adjust to life with diabetes, it wasn't even mentioned. I know there is a lot of information to cover, and people need to know the facts but does everything have to be negative? For me to mention the increased risks of cardiac problems and strokes, retinopathy, and neuropathy made with apparent relish before even making any acknowledgement of the psychological impact this disease can have, is demotivating and totally uncaring. On one hand we were told it is a "chronic life long condition" , but no attempt was made voluntarily by the staff member to give any degree of emotional or psychological support.
No mention was made of the role of dietary supplements despite the evidence to suggest that multivitamins containing vitamin B can be helpful in preventing retinopathy and neuropathy, and no reading material other than Diabetes UK suggested. I am seriously thinking whether I should bother going to the podiatry talk tomorrow in case it is equally depressing. I am away to try and relax, rant over!
