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Professional advice

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Sydneyhorn

Active Member
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27
I was a bit low yesterday. I went to see the Diabetic nurse specialist. She kept emphasising that this is a regressive illness and I'm only going to get worse. She was dismissive of the keto diet, saying only small changes to diet were sensible. And she called testing a waste of time as people just obsess over it.

Needless to say, she said remission doesn't happen unless your starting point is very low in the first place (low 6s).

Is this the common opinion amongst health professionals?

So far (about 2 weeks) I've seen my fasting glucose levels drop from the mid 7s to 5s and 6s on a very low carb diet. Obviously it's early days but it does seem to indicate I'm on the right track!
 
Hi, I was told something similar at diagnosis and have continued to be given this message by a further 4 DNs. Fortunately I discovered this forum, went low carb and reduced my HbA1c from 104 to nondiabetic levels in 6 months. I have maintained this for 6 years.
The joke is that my surgery regards me as a shining star but still refused to consider changing their advice on diet!
 
It is awful that the health professionals we all put our trust in never seem to be singing from the same song sheet but with the bgs you say you have I would say you are doing brilliantly !
 
Sadly it is common. Achieving what many in here achieve is outside of their experience and training and thus to them doesn’t exist. Hardly surprising it doesn’t happen more with the advice, doom and lack of hope they dish out is it?

There are however increasing numbers that are seeing the options and possibilities and encouraging their patients to give it a go. This might because their eyes opened after coming across an enlightened patient such as yourself who did the research and made the changes despite their “advice”. It might be because the little nhs training there is on low carb landed on their threshold or their personal interest brought them up to date. There are also various groups and drs working to bring the nhs and dietary advice in general into the 21st century.
 
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Sydneyhorn said:
She kept emphasising that this is a regressive illness and I'm only going to get worse.
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Exactly what I was told.. and by the "Area Diabetes Nurse" no less.

I found it quite energising as I decided I'd prove her wrong and then did.
Cold blooded anger at her ignorance turned out to be quite a motivator.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

I've always been the type to take medical advice. I'm a logical and scientific person.

But, on this occasion, I think the experiences of people on here is providing better evidence of what works than the advice I was given yesterday!
 
What do you expect - WHEN at first diagnosis the doctor prescribes Metformin and Statins like automatons. No wonder the DNs are typecast. I became a new man when I removed myself from Metformin and Statins after some 10 years painful nights
 
Sydneyhorn said:
Thanks for the replies guys.

I've always been the type to take medical advice. I'm a logical and scientific person.
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Uh huh. Unfortunately in this case these two statements are at odds. As you are a person who is moved by empirical evidence, best thing is to get a meter and test before and after meals and act accordingly.

So we’ll be seeing you in the LCHF camp very soon, then!
 
the NHS and nice are juggernauts that take a very long time to turn. Some more enlighten GPs and DNs are ahead of the curve (like Dr Unwin) others follow the current guideline to the letter (some not through choice) do want works for you - every body is different and everybody is different
 
Sydneyhorn said:
I think the experiences of people on here is providing better evidence of what works than the advice I was given yesterday!
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We've been there and have the t-shirt..I wonder how many Diabetes Nurses have ever achieved the degree of remission that people here have,.. I'll hazard a guess at very few.
 
My endo told me a lot of nonsense... Like how low carb eating would kill me because you can't do without carbs. (Unless I've been a corpse for the past 5 years and just didn't notice...). Or how the gliclazide couldn't cause hypo's in T2's. (It did and they felt horrible). And that the ONLY thing that was bringing my blood sugars down was my medication. (It didn't. I didn't need it at all, to get excellent numbers).

It does trouble me some that a supposed expert in their chosen field can make such crucial mistakes. Also made me wonder how many of my other specialists were talking out of an unnamed orifice. So these days I just read a lot of medical stuff and keep pretty much up to date. I wonder how my first meeting with the urologist will go next week, as I've had a month to learn about oxalates and kidney stones, haha. (They'll either kick me out or talk to me like a human being with more than half a brain cell!).

All in all... Your meter is letting you know you're rocking this T2 thing. Have faith in that. A lot of people here have gone down the same path and are doing rather well... I don't think a lot of her patients can claim the same.
 

Thank you! I really appreciate all the positive reinforcement I'm getting today.

I must admit I was confused and conflicted (and a little depressed) after yesterday's consultation but I'm feeling up and determined again today!
 
Sydneyhorn said:
Thank you! I really appreciate all the positive reinforcement I'm getting today.

I must admit I was confused and conflicted (and a little depressed) after yesterday's consultation but I'm feeling up and determined again today!
Click to expand...
Prove them completely wrong.. it really is that simple.
 
Check out Dr David Unwin. He's an NHS doctor who recommends low carb to his patients with much success. Sadly he is in a minority currently but if more of us succeed and spread the word it will come into the mainstream. His talks are on YouTube.
Its hard to ignore your professionals opinion but so many diabetes specialist are behind the times, or they have prescribing targets to meet, or pressure from the drug companies
 
I feel quite relieved that I have been mostly ignored by the HCPs since diagnosis.
The nurse was wrong on all accounts.
My Hba1c was 91 at diagnosis yet I had no problem in reducing to normal numbers of glucose and I am at the top end of normal Hba1c (at least I assume that is still the case) as I still see the same numbers when I test at home.
I completely changed my diet from the one on the printout which was failing me - and not even lowering my cholesterol as it claimed to do.
 
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