Obesity: How Prejudiced is the NHS?

[lowedb]

I agree, but when I went to the GP and told them I was eating "healthy" low GI and fruit and vegetables, I was told that there was no way that I was eating "healthy and exercising and still over weight. I felt so defeated. I wasn't sitting on the sofa eating cookies and chips but no one believed me.
What was healthy for someone with out Type 2 isn't for me.

Yep. My advice on diagnosis was to use low fat spread, have healthy breakfast cereals, brown bread, avoid orange juice and so on. I even mentioned how the ultra low fat spread I used had been discontinued. I could tell she was looking at me and thinking I was a lying bat faster. I wasn't perfect but my high carb lifestyle was leaving me hungry, angry, and eventually diabetic. I don't see that GP anymore.

 

[Daibell]

Well then you will probably enjoy this advice which is not too far removed from what NHS touts.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Diabete...I-have-Type-2-diabetes/What-can-I-eat-type-2/

Quite absurd advice, but that's what I expect from DUK 'helping those with diabetes'.......

 

[CherryAA]

I friend of mine had surgery done. After losing 50% of her target weight it stopped. While she couldn't eat large portions in one sitting anymore she could still eat often and high calorie food. Ice cream and soft baked goods still went down easily.

A friend of mine started off at 22 stone, had the surgery. got down to 16 stone and is now putting the weight back on and is back upto 18 stones.Meanwhile she can no longer eat proper meals . It all seems a bit like a lose lose , given she knew zero about low carbing before making the decision to have the surgery and no one advised her of the option. ( it was before I knew either) .

 

[CherryAA]

Well then you will probably enjoy this advice which is not too far removed from what NHS touts.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Diabete...I-have-Type-2-diabetes/What-can-I-eat-type-2/

that just makes me want to cry, - so so many people, being misled and honestly thinking they are doing the right thing !

 

[ickihun]

NHS is prejudiced about everything if it gets them off the hook. If you are fat, lazy,smoke or have lifestyle they don't recommend then they would rather put the blame on you.

Their remit, however is to fix people.

When I take my car to the garage for repair the mechanic might say I have been driving it in a manner he does not approve of. Well, I pay the bill so fix it

I like this post and feel a little uncomfortable with it also.
I've been brought up to look after my things but my body size was one thing, simply ignored. With a chubby mum and funny looking dad they didn't feel image was important.
Should we not try for a measure inbetween. Moderate image conscience and moderate care.
Mind u if they are solely looking out for our care, do they not as least deserve to be met at least half way?
I don't ask the nhs to fix something for me so I can continue abusing my system. With new knowledge I'm well prepared to take their full advice to get a good solution. For everyone.
My taxes go into a shared pot.
I've also been brought up to share, especially good fortune.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

that just makes me want to cry, - so so many people, being misled and honestly thinking they are doing the right thing !

Sorry if I upset you but the good news is that other people are also beginning to realise the truth.

 

[ickihun]

After watching one of TV programmes on diabetes when bariatric surgery was featured the patients had to follow a very low calorie diet akin to the Newcastle Diet for 6 weeks and lose weight before they were given the go ahead.

If they can manage this then why not the full ND and avoid the surgery?

Because ND doesn't work or benefit everyone and the nhs knows that. The low calorie diet is to shrink the liver so operation can go ahead safer.

 

[Deleted Account]

I find it interesting the NHS seems to be selective when they use the "lifestyle choice" argument. If you choose to "overeat" (as other have said in this thread, obesity is not only related to overeating: I realise I am simplifying to make my point), smoke or drink heavily, they may restrict the health care that is available to you.
However, if you travel to certain countries you are putting yourself at risk at getting malaria but they don't restrict treatment if you contract this disease because you chose to travel. If you participate in skiing or some other extreme sport, you are more likely to break a leg than someone who sits on a couch all day but they still treat your broken leg, even though it was caused by your lifestyle choice. If you are a senior executive at a large company who has a heart attack due to the added stress you are under, they don't refuse treatment because your job was your lifestyle choice.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Mind u if they are solely looking out for our care, do they not as least deserve to be met at least half way?

That's what I am doing here. I aim to spread knowledge and not blame, even into the NHS.

At my last review my DN stepped out of character for a moment and said, "They don't blame us do they?" I assured her that I have never spoken to anyone that blames the workers at the workface and that she has always done her job perfectly.

I also pointed out that this did not apply to some of the people she worked for.

 

[ickihun]

A friend of mine started off at 22 stone, had the surgery. got down to 16 stone and is now putting the weight back on and is back upto 18 stones.Meanwhile she can no longer eat proper meals . It all seems a bit like a lose lose , given she knew zero about low carbing before making the decision to have the surgery and no one advised her of the option. ( it was before I knew either) .

I feel lucky I know how to low carb before I agree to surgery. Low carbing isn't enough for my huge insulin resistance. No matter how low I go or how the fat variations/ratios. I still need insulin. Maybe with a lower BMI I can get rid. Ironically exercise has served me well over the years to keep my resistance under check but...no exercise.... no reduction!
How many more type2s are going to struggle in later years to exercise? Maybe meds should/could be reserved for then?
Mind u exercise with low carbing must be a winner. I just have never had the opportunity to do both!
Palpatations, dizziness and unsteady walking started early on in my low carb programme.

 

[ickihun]

That's what I am doing here. I aim to spread knowledge and not blame, even into the NHS.

At my last review my DN stepped out of character for a moment and said, "They don't blame us do they?" I assured her that I have never spoken to anyone that blames the workers at the workface and that she has always done her job perfectly.

I also pointed out that this did not apply to some of the people she worked for.

My dn is fantastic too! She is a god send. I don't think she realises it thou. They should receive more praise from their bosses. I know my consultant respects her and she him.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

Meanwhile she can no longer eat proper meals .

I know that bands can be removed, in fact they break and stretch (other way round?), and I thought that program was saying that even the bypass can be reversed.

 

[ickihun]

Apparently the research on bariatric surgery states the Y type is the most successful which is cutting the stomach away. No bands restricting like the temporary procedures. So when the BMI huge they opt for Y type. So I've seen.

 

[serenity648]

I find it interesting the NHS seems to be selective when they use the "lifestyle choice" argument. If you choose to "overeat" (as other have said in this thread, obesity is not only related to overeating: I realise I am simplifying to make my point), smoke or drink heavily, they may restrict the health care that is available to you.
However, if you travel to certain countries you are putting yourself at risk at getting malaria but they don't restrict treatment if you contract this disease because you chose to travel. If you participate in skiing or some other extreme sport, you are more likely to break a leg than someone who sits on a couch all day but they still treat your broken leg, even though it was caused by your lifestyle choice. If you are a senior executive at a large company who has a heart attack due to the added stress you are under, they don't refuse treatment because your job was your lifestyle choice.

I would add to that choosing to have a child.

 

[serenity648]

Apparently the research on bariatric surgery states the Y type is the most successful which is cutting the stomach away. No bands restricting like the temporary procedures. So when the BMI huge they opt for Y type. So I've seen.

Have you had your B12 levels tested?

 

[ickihun]

Have you had your B12 levels tested?

Not recently. I'll quiz gp if done again recently.
Just realised i wasnt on metformin when i did low carb programme, only insulin.
Im off and on with metformin treatment, even now. Not like a decade ago. It was all i needed.

 

[Pipp]

Because ND doesn't work or benefit everyone and the nhs knows that. The low calorie diet is to shrink the liver so operation can go ahead safer.

The Newcastle team lead by Professor RoyTaylor has been shown that the very low calorie diet can work well for some participants, without the need for the surgery.
No single method will work for everyone.

 

[CherryAA]

I do think some of the stuff said about bariatric surgery is very interesting as it does eem to be more than simply physically stopping eating - I am however amazed that that is not coupled with a low carb approach. Why on earth would someone who has just had bariatric surgery, be told its ok to eat effectively potato soup ?

 

[CherryAA]

I feel lucky I know how to low carb before I agree to surgery. Low carbing isn't enough for my huge insulin resistance. No matter how low I go or how the fat variations/ratios. I still need insulin. Maybe with a lower BMI I can get rid. Ironically exercise has served me well over the years to keep my resistance under check but...no exercise.... no reduction!
How many more type2s are going to struggle in later years to exercise? Maybe meds should/could be reserved for then?
Mind u exercise with low carbing must be a winner. I just have never had the opportunity to do both!
Palpatations, dizziness and unsteady walking started early on in my low carb programme.

I fell over myself pretty early on - i/m fairly sure that was a function of having been living with blood sugars in the high teens for a couple of years, which then came down to 5 causing me to get dizzy.
do you still have the dizziness now? I found it has reduced now I am used to a lot lower sugar levels

 

[TendaiRamhewa]

Why can obese patients have anesthetic for bariatric surgery, but not for other surgery?

We do anaesthetise obese patients quite regularly so that's of the mark. My most recent patient was 150kg. My colleague's last week circa 200+. It just depends on what they are having done and whether the risk that comes with anaesthetising them for that particular procedure is warranted. Noone goes to work wanting to kill a 35 year old woman who just happens to be 196kg for the removal of a mole on the bum that's not as much of a risk to their life as securing their breathing because of their weight.