Visit to DN

Finally got to see my DN since my last HbA1c of 5.5%, only appointment was about 4 weeks after.

She was so happy with my getting down to 5.5% and cholesterol etc, she said I was there star patient, she does not have another patient that has come down 6%. How did I do it. So I told her that evn though she was not a fan of low carbing, that is what I have been following, along with testing, testing, testing, was not a fan of that last time we met too. Though again she did say that as someone who tests and does something with the result she is supportive, stopping short of still giving free strips .

She then confessed to me that what I was doing was great and the reason they don't like it is most people don't do it right and don't understand it, but seeing me and talking to me, she could see clearly that I am zoned in and committed to sorting it out. If she saw my results today she would say I was no longer diabetic, and that my tolerance for Glucose has improved I then said, well I have maintained great control and have no doubt I still have diabetes.

We agreed that I will have another HbA1c in 2 months (3 months) with a view to comming of my 1 metformin. (my tummy will like that) I have also lost nearly 1.5 stone which has helped.

So my view of her has gone up since our last meeting.

dawnmc said:

Thats brill biohazard, well done :clap:
Don't understand what she means by 'people don't do right'. If 'people' arn't told about the white stuff how can they do right!

Click to expand...

I think she means that when yoy do low carbing (some people find out like us and search for answers) and testing, "some" people take a view of a low level and eat something they should not cos it's low and it's "ok" but like some here if we do that it's a once in a blue moon thing, some people do it often, and I take a immune multi vitamin and fibre supplements. I gather from our DN that a lot of diabetic patients at my surgery don't look after themselves and my visit may have threw them a bit :lol:

librarising said:

BioHazard wrote
So my view of her has gone up since our last meeting.

Click to expand...

Careful. That's how they suck you in. She'll be saying you're now ready to re-introduce healthy carbs at every meal :lol:

Well done, you :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Geoff

Click to expand...

:lol: nope, we discussed that and I told her that I am happy low carbing, lots of energy, not hungry and I am well. She is happy for me to low carb.

borofergie said:

BioHaZarD said:

She was so happy with my getting down to 5.5% and cholesterol etc, she said I was there star patient, she does not have another patient that has come down 6%. How did I do it. So I told her that evn though she was not a fan of low carbing, that is what I have been following, along with testing, testing, testing, was not a fan of that last time we met too.

Click to expand...

Wow! What a damning indictment of this DN and the advice that she hands out:

1. She doesn't approve of low-carbing
2. She doesn't approve of self testing
3. She has never helped a patient to get a HbA1c of less than 6%

Doesn't it occur to her that (1)+(2)=(3). I know that correlation does not necessarily equal causation, but the fact that she has never seen a HbA1c of less than 6% must suggest to her that the advice she is giving out is fundamentally wrong.

I don't want to diminish your achievement (not at all, a HbA1c of 5.5% is brilliant, and you're a low-carb hero), but I think that you'll admit that it isn't really that hard for a bog-standard T2 to achieve a HbA1c of <6%. Manage your carb intake (by whatever method), and your HbA1c will drop. Simples.

Of course there are exceptions, and some T2s might need more pharmaceutical help, but time and time again we see newbies coming here with sky high HbA1cs, who with a few dietary and lifestyle adjustments, manage to get <6% or better.

Even by the law of averages you'd expect that one or two of her patients might manage to get their diabetes under proper control. But under her care she has managed zip, zero, zilch, nada, niet, nein, non. :shock:

It's wonder 92.5% of T2 Diabetics in the UK have a HbA1c of >6.5%

Click to expand...

I agree, what I get from this is yes, DN's are spouting the eat carbs etc, as this is the default advice, give more pills, etc,then maybe insulin when n more pills can be consumed. I also believe, maybe for this surgery only (probably others) 99% of people accept the DN's advice and have no intention of researching like we did. If I am the only one who has achieved this then hopefully this may make her think about it more and if another patient shows more willing she may sway her towards this advice!

My brother for instance goes to my surgery, also a type 2. He is on about 10 pills a day, 4 x Metformin, high blood pressure pills, cholesterol pills, he does not look after his diet, eats takeaways, bread, pasta, anything. He says he cut down a bit, I offered him my spare BG meter did not want it and never tests, offered a one off test just to see, he did not want too. He is happy plodding on with the advice he gets from our DN.

I don't take your comment to heart either , I have managed to get it down great (help from here is a must, 100% reason for this) and whilst there were some hard days, mostly quite easy once in full low carbing swing) mindset is most important, I WANT to have normal life with no complications. Everyone is different, but everyone can low carb.

Yes, the standard default advice should be changed and/or different options offered as people are different.