NHS diabetes prevention program - worth it?

[Lizzy274]

Has anyone done this? Is it worth it or are they just likely to tell me stuff I already know?

I'm not diabetic but I'm at high risk and have had raised readings, hence being offered the place.

Any information and opinions welcome. I don't want to commit and take a place on it if it's going to be useless.

Thanks!

 

[douglas99]

It depends on what you know.

Personally, any information is always useful for me.

 

[wiseowl_123]

Personally I would go ,even if you learn just one thing from it ,it will be worth it,and when you have been you can come back and tell us what you learnt and help our other friends who are offered a place in their location,go for it

 

[zand]

I would go too, it may be useful, it may not, but you won't know unless you go.

 

[psignathus]

It depends. If my TV were broke and all the pubs where shut and none of my bikes needed cleaning and the cat litter tray had been done and I had run out of needles to stick in my eyes then yes I would go.

 

[Brunneria]

I agree with Douglas, Wiseowl and zand. Info is good. Sharing info is even better.
But in all honesty, I would feel exactly like psignathus, and resent every second.



I would also be wondering, am I taking up a place that would be better given to someone else? OR am I saving some other poor sap from being indoctrinated into the Eatwell Plate?

Who knows?

Maybe @Lizzy274 can come back and give us the answer...?

 

[sally and james]

Is it worth it or are they just likely to tell me stuff I already know?

As has been mentioned above, we don't know what you know and, of course, you don't know what you don't know. The question I would be asking myself, in your position, would be,
Am I the sort of person who can read around a subject, research it, evaluate information and draw it together into something meaningful for me? Am I going to be frightened by words or terms that aren't familiar, or will I simply look them up and take them on board.
If the answer is yes, you probably don't need to attend what is almost certain to be a very slowly paced, mixed ability training session.
However, if you like the reassurance of someone explaining things to you and would rather take things slowly, a training session may be for you.
Also, be aware that some of these training sessions can be full of out dated information, such as "eat lots of carbs with every meal" and, by the way, would you like another biscuit.
Sally

 

[douglas99]

Can you really find every answer to your life on google?
I like to meet real people, that have actually done it, and meet them face to face.
That way you get an honest opinion of your 'answers', rather than simply trawling through until you find ones that are meaningful to you, and quietly dismiss the rest.
Discussion is the most honest way to learn.

I think if you can approach it with an open mind, you'll get a lot out of it.
If you go to prove they don't agree with your internet research, you may not get a good experience.

 

[sally and james]

I like to meet real people, that have actually done it, and meet them face to face.

The problem with these courses is that they are, by definition, the people who haven't done it.
Sally

 

[douglas99]

The problem with these courses is that they are, by definition, the people who haven't done it.
Sally

That's because you do your own courses, online.

I did mine in a room full of other diabetics.
With three nurses who met diabetics every day.

As I said, to benefit from a learning course, it needs an open mind, otherwise you are better off on your laptop and you will always find your support, and no discussion to trouble you.
We should all learn in the way that suits up though, everyone has different needs.

 

[bulkbiker]

That's because you do your own courses, online.

I did mine in a room full of other diabetics.
With three nurses who met diabetics every day.

As I said, to benefit from a learning course, it needs an open mind, otherwise you are better off on your laptop and you will always find your support, and no discussion to trouble you.
We should all learn in the way that suits up though, everyone has different needs.

And did those nurses really recommend the Newcastle Diet to you?
If so you were an extraordinarily lucky man..
No one at my surgery was even aware of Roy Taylor let alone his findings..so it's a lottery.. I learnt much more from here than anywhere and next time I see anyone from the NHS about my condition I will recommend they do the same..read the success stories on this forum and open their minds..

 

[douglas99]

And did those nurses really recommend the Newcastle Diet to you?
If so you were an extraordinarily lucky man..
No one at my surgery was even aware of Roy Taylor let alone his findings..so it's a lottery.. I learnt much more from here than anywhere and next time I see anyone from the NHS about my condition I will recommend they do the same..read the success stories on this forum and open their minds..

Yes, as I say, an open mind is always good.
Sometimes you find out you don't know everything.
And I quite often learn as much simply by seeing others make mistakes, so I don't, as by finding the right way.

 

[bulkbiker]

Yes, as I say, an open mind is always good.
Sometimes you find out you don't know everything.
And I quite often learn as much simply by seeing others make mistakes, so I don't, as by finding the right way.

You have avoided answering about the ND..did the nurses recommend it to you?

 

[jonbvn]

That's because you do your own courses, online.

I did mine in a room full of other diabetics.
With three nurses who met diabetics every day.

As I said, to benefit from a learning course, it needs an open mind, otherwise you are better off on your laptop and you will always find your support, and no discussion to trouble you.
We should all learn in the way that suits up though, everyone has different needs.

This forum and subsequently LCHF & IF together with plenty of exercise have halved my Hba1c and a led to a weight loss of 25%. There are now far too many similar cases on here to be written off as purely anecdotal evidence.

 

[douglas99]

This forum and subsequently LCHF & IF together with plenty of exercise have halved my Hba1c and a led to a weight loss of 25%. There are now far too many similar cases on here to be written off as purely anecdotal evidence.

There are many ways to go, hence the reason to get out and meet people who do accept there are other ways.
If that suits you, that's good.
I worked with my HCP's took their advice, and found my way, to actually reverse my diabetes, not diet control it.

But in doing so I also accepted I didn't know everything about diabetes, (still don't) and that others may know more. (or less). So I keep learning

I obviously make no secret of the fact I prefer not to low carb, for example, today I'm expecting my daughter home, I'm making banana bread, as it's her favourite, and yet, I do like to be able to have a slice or two with her still, so my method suits me better.

 

[Daibell]

Can I be blunt. Most of these NHS courses take too long and include a lot of bad information such as the (in)famous Eatwell Guide. All the information anyone needs is on this website to help reduce the risk of diabetes or manage it.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Is it sensible to refuse a chance any chance that may help you avoid diabetes. because diabetes is something I would have gone to great lengths to avoid if I had only known.

Go to it and then come back here and run it past us you can get great guidance here as to what may be pertenant or useful.

 

[Lizzy274]

Quite a debate here!

I've decided to give it a go. I'll go with an open mind and hopefully I will learn something.

I'll report back in due course but as the program is 9 months, it won't be for a while. If it's rubbish, I'll offer feedback via my gp and hopefully save others from it!