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PCT Dietitians Group Course

Sid Bonkers

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,976
Location
S.E.London, N.W.Kent borders
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Customer helplines that use recorded menus that promise to put me through to the right person but never do - and being ill. Oh, and did I mention customer helplines :)
I got a referral to a dietitian group course held at a local hospital and didnt think I would get much from it but I was wrong.

Far from the eat loads of starchy carbs advice that many on here claim they are told (I have never been told this!)the dietitian running this course first showed an hour long video (which I found quite boring) and then started talking about sugar and carbs and how they affect diabetics, the group was advised that current thinking showed that low carb was probably the way forward in diabetic control, not the very low carb Atkins/Bernstein diets but a balanced diet covering ALL food groups.

We were told that we are all individuals and no one diet was going to fit all, but a good starting point was 20g carbs for breakfast and around 40 to 50g of carbs for lunch and evening meal. Almost exactly the diet I am currently enjoying, and I mean enjoying Although I dont eat 20g for breakie...

I didnt learn too much new information, but I did find it very useful in reminding me about all the stuff I had forgotten or was sitting in the back of my memory, like the effect of vinegar in slowing down the effect of carbs in a meal.

A great course that I would thoroughly recommend if your local PCT runs one. Ask your GP.

We were shown a book called "Carbs and Cals by Chris Cheyette and Yello Balolia" its a book of photographs of various food stuffs in various portion sizes and gives the carbs per portion. I wont be running off to buy a copy but I would recommend it to anyone who is unsure about portion sizes and carbs. Google it for more info - it has its own web site

So, low carb is the way forward eh?
 
Gosh! :shock:

Sid, you are fortunate indeed to have met with the enlightened few! May they spread the message far and wide. Funnily enough the hospital is the one place I have met with sanity on the carbs issue and it is at the local surgery that they are so closed to any different ways of dealing with diabetes other than 'plenty of starchy carbohydrates'. I was even told I would die if I didn't eat them! :lol: They are right that I will die eventually anyway but it won't be due to a lack of carbs! :lol:

Your report really is encouraging although it makes me wonder how long before it filters through to all levels?! Hopefully not too long anyway - and then we just need an acknowledgement of the need to test and the provision of a system which allows us to do it without paying through the nose. :roll:
 
It would be fantastic if a similar view was held by all dietitians working in PCT, like you Sid, I was told that 120-130g of carbs a day is a acceptable lower limit by my own dietitian, which is a big improvement on the standard 250-300g per day. Even on the DAFNE course I attended last year, the two diabetes nurses who ran the course admitted that medical opinion is shifting and 130g is considered to be a safe limit for diabetics to aim for should they choose.

It reinforces everything that we have said on this forum for a long time, everything in moderation!

Nigel
 
Synonym said:
Your report really is encouraging although it makes me wonder how long before it filters through to all levels?!
Click to expand...


Small steps, small steps She really did emphasise portion control and the GI diet, even suggesting we all bought the Collins Gem GI book, like the carb counter but with the addition of a traffic light system of identifying a foods level on the GI. Ive even ordered one today off Amazon dot whatsit, I wonder if shes gets commission :lol:

Interesting fact I learned. The London Borough of Bromley, were I live, has 15000 diabetics :shock: We're gonna need a bigger clinic methinks.
 
Sid Bonkers said:
Interesting fact I learned. The London Borough of Bromley, were I live, has 15000 diabetics :shock: We're gonna need a bigger clinic methinks.
Click to expand...

Clearly there are not many of them who have found their way here to this forum which would be of real benefit to them. A few posters scattered around, Sid :?: :idea:

Also sounds like the makings of a strong pressure group. 8)
 
What a refreshing post.

Dietitians generally have not been prescribing massive CHO intakes - however the important thing is that people are different and need different amounts of CHO - they need individual assessment!

Some of my pts have much higher CHO intakes but they are manual workers or athletes!

I read these posts with a sense of annoyance - people really seem to think dietitians have no idea - duh!!! They are very well trained and do look at evidence but also expereince !

I use a moderate approach and get good results but everyone is treated as an individual.

I learnt something tho - just ordered the carb book - I tend to use food models but they are bulky!
 
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