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Type 2 Uneducated Friend

S

scottishfilly

Member
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8
I have a good friend who was diagnosed in Spain 13 years ago. Basically told nothing, just "don't eat sweets and cakes"!! He returned to Ireland a couple of years later, was put on Metformin and given no further instructions. Not even a blood sugar monitor! He has a monitor now, but no knowledge of why and how to use it. He sometimes tests his blood once a day!!! He is now on heavy dosage of Metformin, plus anti depressants and god only knows what else. He had a knee replacement last year and takes no exercise at all. He is extremely overweight, but eats NOTHING. He is just resigned to the fact that he'll be diabetic for life and because his stupid GP doesn't give him any guidance he's getting worse. His mental state is not good.
I am pre-diabetic and have it under control. I have spent hours online educating myself and now I despair at how I can get it over to my friend just what he's dealing with. He's fed up about me going on about diet. I'm certain his biggest problem is lack of nutrition, he has a cuppa soup for breakfast and maybe just a small plate of salad for lunch and dinner. He doesn't drink coffee, tea or water, gets his fluid intake from Diet Coke. I know he's frightened to eat, but how can he control glucose levels when he doesn't even understand how important testing is?
He doesn't use the internet, doesn't trust what it tells you! He will only listen to "proper medical advice". Medics have just told him after 13 years that he shouldn't be eating pasta, rice etc!!!!!!!! I'm certain if I could get him to look at this site it would open his eyes, but he won't. I am really concerned for him, especially his mental wellbeing.
Can anyone point me in the direction of any online source which has ALL the relevant info on what exactly Type 2 is, why and how often testing should be done etc. etc. If I could print something off from a reputable source, he may just read it.
 
I am sorry to hear about your friend. If you are talking about Republic of Ireland then treatment of Diabetes 2 is very hit and miss. My late Mum was diagnosed given a meter told to test 3 times a day Mon, Wed and Thurs and record it. However there was no follow up, no DN, no referral for diet management. Other than some books I sent her and frighteningly what people told her she was in the dark. It was widely believed that Metformin allowed you to eat anything. That was just 2 years ago.
I imagine its different for T1s. If your friend is T1 @mountaintom might have some useful advice. The only thing I can suggest is try and get his family members on board to support and encourage him. He definitely needs to take some control and soon.
 
Edit. Mum was told to test Mon, Wed and Friday.
 
Hi Scottishfilly and welcome to the Forum. I’m sorry to hear about your friend, but how lovely of you to care so much. It may be a case of leading a horse to water... but well done for trying so hard. This website is a good place to start, heres our stance on testing for starters:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/how-often-should-i-blood-test.html
And here’s one about low carb eating:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/low-carb-diabetes-diet.html

Edit to add this link explaining type 2:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/type2-diabetes.html
 
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PenguinMum, yes we are in the Republic. "Hit and Miss" is putting it mildly, I say it's a joke! The forum won't allow me to post a link to Diabetes dot ie, but on their food group page for type 2, it clearly says "starchy carbohydrates should form the basis of every meal". And fat is really, really bad for you. Talk about the dark ages!
 
Rachox, thanks for your reply. I have tried to persuade him to keep a record of food and test his blood before and after eating. To try and establish just what affects his levels. It's like talking to the wall! As for low carbing, he's on low everything at present! I'm sure he's having so much trouble because lack of food is causing very low levels, then sudden spikes when he does eat. I've explained to him that he should eat little and often to try to stabilise things. But I don't have MD after my name or a stethoscope round my neck! He thinks what the doctor tells him is law...……….I feel like confronting his GP, but it would cost me 50 euros to get in and see him!
 
Hi @scottishfilly thanks for posting and thank you for caring for your friend. Try and get him to have a look on here. We are not medically trained but have a lot of experience between us regarding diabetes. We have all been there and tried all different ways to help sort ourselves. What works for one may not work for another but there are so many people on here that have done different things to sort "their" diabetes issues, one may work for your friend. Please keep us posted and good luck with your friend.
 
@scottishfilly do you think he would listen to Ivor Cummins a fellow countryman. Aka The Fat Emperor he is an Irish engineer based in Dublin who has got a world reputation for his science based research into eating keto/low carb to fix obesity and diabetes. Maybe your friend would youtube his talks (short bursts), follow him on facebook, visit his site. His latest book Eat Right Live Long is sound advice for everyone. You never know it might get his attention. You are the friend everyone should have. Best wishes.
 

Unfortunately that is the same dietary advice we get in the U.K.
 
I have been dealing with similar issues with friends and family members of mine. The just listening to medical professionals @scottishfilly, I agree, is a real killer! (Or, to take it literally - can be.) Because we live in interesting times when it comes to what folks like us in this forum know, and the many forward thinking meds and scientists and researchers, and as we know - engineers, know (love that Ivor Cummings), but this has not extended to our doctors. And that is all over the western world. How to break through this huge trust in medical authorities when at the moment much of it is sooooo wrong for T2D? I don't know the answer to that one. But I feel for you, for sure. It's very very very hard to stand by and watch when loved ones continue to put their faith in theories about T2D from medical authorities that we know are wrong.

The only thing I can say is what others in the forum have said, and I have started to think is the only way for folks like us with traditional-path T2D loved ones, is, be the living breathing example of much improved health, and then, maybe, hopefully, they will come to you for advice.

And then all you can do is to say that you will always be there for them in the advice department, should they want to walk down your path instead, or at least really hear about it. As we know, the 'complications' of T2D can be horrible indeed. Some way along their path they may see the need to get alternative input than the non-input they have been getting? And then you will be there to give it. This is how I have decided to proceed with my loved ones in any case.

Yes, trusting medical authorities on metabolic dysfunction, and how to correct it, and to actually give good instruction, is a real b***er for sure!

Good luck with your friend.
 
And not trusting the internet? Goodness gracious me! I don't know how I would live now without the internet as a source of information, as is the case for most of us.

Your friend is a hard nut to crack for sure, @scottishfilly. Yes, I think you yourself knowing what you do will be this person's best resource, ultimately.
 
Antje77 said:
Sounds like a very low carb diet to me, or am I missing something?
Click to expand...
@Antje77 you’re more on the ball than the rest of us tonight! You’re quite right, even most Cuppa soups I just checked on Tesco website are under 20g carbs per cup.
 
I have seen Ivor Cummins videos on the diet doctor and enjoyed them. I will buy the book and hope to get Alan interested enough to read it. Fingers crossed!
 
Antje77 said:
Sounds like a very low carb diet to me, or am I missing something?
Click to expand...
I agree, it is a very low carb diet, but he's not eating anything to replace the carbs. That can't be healthy and he is still very overweight. Also the Metformin causes terrible bowel problems which adds to his not wanting to eat.
 
Unfortunately he reads too much in the press about how the internet can be bad in terms of giving the wrong advice. We all know that, but also know where to look for the right advice. When my GP told me I was prediabetic, she also told me to avoid things like ready made pasta sauces, make fresh. Nothing about avoiding pasta! I went home, hit Google and found this site. I educated myself thanks to the internet. He is a bit of a technophobe, and perhaps his attitude towards the internet is a cover up for that...…….
 
I suppose the medical authorities won't change their attitude whilst big pharma are behind them...………… My friend's GP is one of the highest paid in Ireland. Paid by the government for every appointment with patients who have a medical card. Unfortunately money talks.
 
There seems to be a growing interest in low carb as a way of ‘reversing’ (I use the word cautiously) Type 2 Diabetes in the media recently. There’s been a couple of programs on the BBC, forgive my ignorance I don’t know which channels you receive in Ireland, one called the Truth about Carbs, it featured type 2 Diabetes. The other was I think called the Truth about Obesity. I wonder if your friend would be more receptive to TV than the internet. They were quite recent so I’m sure they’ll be on iPlayer still.
 
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