odd advice in Balance magazine

[Cowboyjim]

Dunno about fellow UK DMs but I get sent the mag Balance and in the recent issue it gave IMHO some rather odd advice to a Type 2.

Someone wrote in saying they had trouble working out how many carbs in her diet. The Editor replied saying "carb counting is used mostly by people with Type 1... Carb counting is not used for people who treat their T2 with tablets ... although it is still important to be 'carbohydrate aware'..."

Am I alone in being somewhat askance at such 'advice' in the Diabetes UK mag?

I just wonder how many folks there are out there being misled or at best being kept in the dark. 8)

 

[hanadr]

It's actually better advice than they used to give. Even being "carb aware" wasn't recommended up til recently. I've been drumming carb control at DUK for ages. I am an active member. Just got the invitation to my next meeting. Not got the current "Balance" yet though.
Hana

 

[cugila]

Unfortunately Jim, that is what we here are trying to get over to people. Maybe you should contact DUK by e-mail, writing, phone etc and ask why such misleading advice was published. We aren't talking about low carbing here....we are telling people how to control Bg levels and for ANY Diabetic one of the simplest ways to do so is reduce the carb intake. I suppose it's something that they mention 'carb aware.' However as we see here, that doesn't explain what that means and what it can do for any Diabetic.

If you don't count them....how on earth can you hope to suceed in controlling it ?

As you say......."askance at such 'advice' in the Diabetes UK mag ?" Not the first time and bet it won't be the last either. :roll:

Ken

 

[Cowboyjim]

One has to hope that someone who is active enough to write to a mag is also savvy enough to search the web... you never know they may end up here and read about themselves. I hope it is not too late for complications to set in....
I hate to think where I would be now if it were not for this forum!
Have just returned from my daily bike ride and near home we stopped to chat to neighbours who have relatives with an oddly indifferent attitude to their DM... one has even lost toes and yet refuses to sort out his diet. He is Indian so I suspect it's all the rice and bread etc... Says we all have to die some time... lordy! 8)

 

[noblehead]

Jim,

Not received my copy of Balance as yet, so not read the letters page. That advice by the editor does seem rather odd, surely its as important to type 2's than it is for type 1's to know the carb value of the food they eat, regardless of how they treat their condition. Is it not the case that courses such as DESMOND and similar are there to teach type 2's how to carb count correctly and so maintain stable blood glucose control?.............by implying the opposite merely undermines the existence and value of these courses for type 2's! :?

Like Ken says, put pen to paper or e-mail the editor and make them aware of this mis-information.

Nigel

 

[catherinecherub]

I did not go on an EXPERT or DESMOND course and have never carb counted. The advice I was given was to follow the GI/GL method and watch the portion size. Carbohydrates were explained as in what a carbohydrate was and lists of foods. It was only when I came to this site that I saw about carb counting for Type 2's and I have added them up on the odd occasion when I answer a particular post. I was also supplied with a meter and test strips and told that the levels I obtained would decide what was right to eat.

I found this about the DESMOND course and unless it has been updated, there doesn't seem to be any reference to carb counting, perhaps a recent candidate knows?

http://www.desmond-project.org.uk/programmes_02.html

I think the main problem for Type2's is the lack of meter and test strips.