• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Pre-diabetes course /NHS Diabetes Programme

L

lou49

Member
Messages
13
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
My husband saw his GP this morning. With an HbA1c of 43 he is being referred for this course and will have a repeat blood test in three months time.

I understand low-carb quite well myself (I've posted elsewhere on this forum) and will go with him on the course if I'm allowed. My question is:- can anyone who's been on this course tell me what nutritional advice is given out? I just want to be on board with it before we go.

He's not overweight (I am though) and he does exercise. I do feel a bit guilty as we've done a Slimming World high carb/low fat way of eating for years. Amazing that I'm not the pre-diabetic one really, but no..... I've got certain food issues of my own and feeling rather conflicted.

Thanks.
 
I can't tell you anything about the course.
I just wanted to say that you should not feel guilty about taking dietary advice from professionals which, later, you have found not to be suitable for yourself or your husband.
Diet is a minefield and many things can influence what is right for you, including things which we haven't always known about.

If you can find a diet which helps both of you, that is brilliant. Good luck with your search ... I hope you also manage to have some fun finding new meals on the way.
 
@lou49 there is no need to feel guilty about eating high carb low fat - you are not alone in this! I, like many others on this forum, used to eat what many nutritionists and the NHS consider a healthy diet ie low fat, low sugar, wholewheat pasta, bread and rice, jacket potatoes, plenty of fruit etc and was still diagnosed with T2 diabetes. By eating less carbs I have maintained normal blood sugars for a number of years and my Hba1c has been in the mid 30s for the last 4 years.
 
Diet recommendations are likely to be based on the Eatwell Guide with carbs, preferably low GI, at every meal. Together with portion control this may be an improvement on some peoples existing diet and a step in the right direction but not far enough for most diabetics to achieve acceptable results.
 
Goodness, just as well I came on here! This Eatwell plate thing looks all wrong. Where is the most definitive evidence that it isn't the way to go, as I'd like to show my husband. I'm visualising us on the course with them promoting the Eatwell plate and him saying how much he misses his fruit (eg banana) and toast for breakfast......I thought that these clinics were promoting low-carb. I did have the book by Trudi Deakin (but think I gave it to the charity shop....)
 
lou49 said:
Goodness, just as well I came on here! This Eatwell plate thing looks all wrong. Where is the most definitive evidence that it isn't the way to go, as I'd like to show my husband. I'm visualising us on the course with them promoting the Eatwell plate and him saying how much he misses his fruit (eg banana) and toast for breakfast......I thought that these clinics were promoting low-carb. I did have the book by Trudi Deakin (but think I gave it to the charity shop....)
Click to expand...
It seems to depend on the course and who is presenting it (especially how long ago they trained). If it is an "Xpert" course then some seem to advocate low carb whereas someone recently went on one and was given the Eatwell nonsense. If it is a Desmond then be prepared for some bad info!
 
lou49 said:
Goodness, just as well I came on here! This Eatwell plate thing looks all wrong. Where is the most definitive evidence that it isn't the way to go, as I'd like to show my husband. I'm visualising us on the course with them promoting the Eatwell plate and him saying how much he misses his fruit (eg banana) and toast for breakfast......I thought that these clinics were promoting low-carb. I did have the book by Trudi Deakin (but think I gave it to the charity shop....)
Click to expand...

Ask him if he prefers his toast and banana to his feet and eyes ;)

The definitive evidence that the Eatwell Plate doesn't work for T2 diabetics is all over this forum. Perhaps your husband might be advised to join up?
 
lou49 said:
My husband saw his GP this morning. With an HbA1c of 43 he is being referred for this course and will have a repeat blood test in three months time.

I understand low-carb quite well myself (I've posted elsewhere on this forum) and will go with him on the course if I'm allowed. My question is:- can anyone who's been on this course tell me what nutritional advice is given out? I just want to be on board with it before we go.

He's not overweight (I am though) and he does exercise. I do feel a bit guilty as we've done a Slimming World high carb/low fat way of eating for years. Amazing that I'm not the pre-diabetic one really, but no..... I've got certain food issues of my own and feeling rather conflicted.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Lou49 - Courses vary from place to place in the country, and they do also vary quite a lot in content, depending on where you are going.

My area is largely based on the Eat Well Plate, but there are other places where a lower carb approach seems to have been adopted. Sometimes the course name gives a clue. The names I seem to recall are DESMOND, X-Pert and EDEN. There are different courses for Type ones, who are of course having to handle their insulin usage.

In my area at least, spouses or carers are welcomed on the courses, as there is a recognition that it isn't really a solo condition, and that certainly if diet is to be tweaked it is important that the person doing the preparing and cooking understands what they are being told.
 
lou49 said:
Goodness, just as well I came on here! This Eatwell plate thing looks all wrong. Where is the most definitive evidence that it isn't the way to go, as I'd like to show my husband. I'm visualising us on the course with them promoting the Eatwell plate and him saying how much he misses his fruit (eg banana) and toast for breakfast......I thought that these clinics were promoting low-carb. I did have the book by Trudi Deakin (but think I gave it to the charity shop....)
Click to expand...
Bear in mind the Eastwell Guide was driven and approved by the food industry as the meeting minutes show, so high carbs would be the order of the day as they are cheap. It has little to do with a healthy diet.
 
The main problem with the Eatwell Guide is that it was designed for the general population and should not have been used for diabetics. I know some non-diabetics for whom the Eatwell Guide would be a vast improvement in their diet as it would be a big reduction in carbs and portion size.
 
Back
Top