Kimbo - I don't want to be raining on your BBQ, but if your review is anything like mine, after my first post-diagnosis HbA1c, the reaction will be congratulatory, but muted on the "how" factor.
I didn't, and don't take that approach, at that time, as an insult. I honestly believe many of our healthcare folks must be incredibly frustrated by the position in which they find themselves. In order to comply with NHS and NICE guidelines, they must toe the line on diet etc. If they recommend off-piste overtly, their insurers would probably be unsupportive if a tricky situation arose. I would hate to be working under those constraints. It has to be very stressful.
My nurse's take on stuff was, "Have you lost weight?" I hadn't been weighed at the outset, then went off to the sun for 4 months, so not entirely her fault.
Having confirmed weightloss, my improved BP and other scores, all she could say was, "keep doing what you're doing", but she really, really didn't want to discuss what I had been doing. To be fair to her, she did acknowledge I had done well to reduce 73 to 37.
I know that's painting a rather disappointing picture, but given I had undertaken a 9000 mile round-trip for my review, it's fair to say I didn't immediately pencil the next one into my diary. I had a further blood screen done after a further 3 months, abroad.
However it goes, and I do hope it's more uplifting than mine was, don't lose sight of how well you have done.
Are you taking a copy of Southport GP's synopsis with you?
It makes a difference and I can pick it up in a improvement in mood, lower levels and feeling much more assured.
