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Visit to dietician yesterday

M

MrsGnu

Member
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15
Hello everyone

I went to see the dietician yesterday, and was expecting a bit of a telling off for following the low carb approach.

However she was really supportive! She says that it's obviously working for me and my blood sugars so to carry on for the next 6-8 weeks and then maybe think about raising my carbs slowly from 40-60g a day now to a max of 120g, which is what she considers to be suitable for a diabetic diet. The 120g was also a surprise to me as I had been eating 200g before to achieve 50% of my calories from carbs, as per current guidance.

She says low carb not current NHS guidance as there is no accepted research/evidence base and they are worried about the effects of a diet high in fat and protein without the evidence to back it up. I pointed out that there is research out there and being carried out even now, she committed to do her own search of the available research evidence before I see her again in 6 weeks time.

She also called her boss in to go through my food diary and she was happy with the approach too!

Thought you might find this interesting....

Jo
 
Terrific – an open mind coupled with a willingness to do research and also treated supportively and with dignity. :D
 
Mrs Gnu,

Strange that, I was told the same last year by a DSN and diabetes consultant. Whilst they won't over excited about a carb reduction diet, they both agreed that 120-130g of carbs a day is sufficient to fuel the body. Their biggest concern regarding the low-carb approach, was the tendency to increase fat as a substitute for carbs, which they said was not advisable due to diabetics being at a higher risk of cardiac disease. As I eat a low-fat diet, this was not relevant to myself.

I vary from day-to-day, anywhere between 90-130g per day, and on special occasions a little more, but can function quite happy on 90g of carb as I can on 130g. More important is the variety of good wholesome foods that don't cause spikes, keep blood sugars stable, but are nutrient rich.

Regards

Nigel
 
I was really encouraged to be treated like a grown up. Too many experts over the years have really talked down to me and I am an educated, intelligent person (honest!). Doing this now I feel more in control of my own destiny, it just takes a bit more thought and a bit more time in the kitchen! Well worth it though, my fasting blood sugars are now down from 14.4 to 7.3 in just a little over a week....
 
I visited a dietitian today for the first time I expected to be lectured about low carbs as I am very underweight. What a surprise a very young lady listened carefully gave me some sensible advice is going to write to my GP and DN and wants to see me in 2 months.Ifeel better already!
 
Carty
That sounds brilliant. Can you, in a couple of sentences, cos i don't want to waste your time, summarise what she advised about food for sorting out the "underweight" problem. I should like to have a better array of possible answers before facing my own visit to the doc at the end of the month! I'll put a lot of clothes on but it shows in my face!!
DG
 
Yes dragongirl I will try to remember She recommended eating often for example mid morning and mid afternoon snacks not just fruit which is what I have been having, adding cheese or yoghurt and nuts .Ihave porridge for my breakfast I know some low carbers dont agree with this but this is my only carbs basically anyway she sugested using all full cream milk instead of milk and water.Also trying to have supper maybe cheese and if carbs allow a cracker with butter with it.She was very understanding about the carbs.I make a lot of soup so she thought adding cream to these or lentils or beans to veg soup.I am keeping my cholesterol down with plant sterols also the porridge so we agreed on the need to put onthe weight was important at this time.I hope this helps I will add more as I remember it CAROL
 
Really encouraging stuff, Jo.
Great to be reminded that there are open minded free thinking people in dietetics if you're lucky!

fergus
 
Hi Carol, I got basically the same advice as you from my dietitian, when she put me on a high fat diet. She recommended whole milk, butter, cream, full fat cheese and nuts, I didn't need any persuading to ditch the low fat stuff :D . If you can tolerate porridge your one of the lucky ones :mrgreen: , I find that I spike into double numbers 1hr after eating so for me it's a no go :cry:

Regards
Graham
 
Thanks Carol. I am doing all those things except the yogurt, the porridge and the lentils, so I'm not sure there is more I can do. I fear to try those having seen what other things will spike me. But I had celeriac for the first time ever tonight, with grated cheese and cream mashed in (with a large piece of haddock) and it tasted real good. Just about to do my 2-hour test, which may just go over 6 as the 1-hour one was 5.6, which will disappoint me, but the need to stop losing weight is greater right now!
Thanks for those suggestions anyway.
DG
 
Yogurt has 5.5 carb per 100 grams not to bad green lentils 55 carb to 100 grams so may be just afew would be ok we just need to keep trying I will let you know if I put on weight and how my bgs go.
 
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