visit to Dr.

[cuillie]

My doctor today said how well I was looking and haad I lost weight. Well I've not weighed myself since starting a low carb diet, but I certainly feel less bloated, anyway, in my enthusiam I began to tell her I was changing my diet, and that my blood sugars were coming down to a good level which is my priority, weight loss secondary,she started telling me that I had to be careful about too many highs and lows happening with blood sugars, I responded that that wasn't happening as I was testing so much more, therefore learning what spiked my bloods. She said that testing wasn't really that important and that it was the HBa1c that was important, of course it is I said but surely it is important to learn, especially just now what food is doing to my blood sugars. Then came the lectures about eating pasta,rice wholemeal bread, potates etc. Tthat especially as I take insulin I must eat these foods. I am reducing my insulins gradually. I was begining to feel deflated by this time.

I then asked if I could change the tablet I take in the morning for high blood pressure to another that I could take at another time as, I have to wait half an hour befor I can eat, which means that my blood sugar goes up from the waking reading, she said that perindopril is the best one for diabetics.

I then said I wasn't happy about being on statins, my legs get sore and as my cholestral is now low I would like to come off them. Statins, she said protect me from having heart attacks and strokes and doesn't really matter whether my cholestral is low or high, it's all more complicated that that. But, she couldn't force me to stay on them so it was up to me,buts she would need to document it that I may come off them.

By this time I felt like a naught school girl and not someone who is attempting to take control of their condition and improve theirs health, not less saving the NHS.

I felt very disappointed, I thought that as she was a young Dr. she might have more insight and not follow the party line. Even if she had said great lets monitor your progress for 3months or so and see what happens, but no nothing of that encouragement.

She took my bloods, so I am hoping that they will show a marked difference from last time. but she wasn't happy about doing my blood test as it's now thought that it's a waste of a Dr. time. I'd got a letter to go for a diabetic review, but the next clinic wa end of July and I would miss it. It's now nurse who has been trained in diabetes who does all that now.

Sorry to ramble on, but I felt quite low when I came out of the surgery, but I am determined to carry on with my low carb eating, and testing for as long as they will give me strips. Don't know what to do about the statins though, she scared me a bit and I'm not clever enough to enderstand the science of it all.

So there we are, I seem to have joined the merry band of people whose GPs are not enlighten, but if anyone knows more about statins or other high blood pressure med. I would be gratful for their input.

 

[dawnmc]

Well I think you should be very proud of yourself. You probably sounded very confident to her (shame about the chattering in the head). Any way well done you. It just goes to show you that although we place our trust in them they know nowt as they say in Yorkshire. You should read 'the great cholesterol con' by Malcolm Kendrick. Google him I think you may find him on you tube. His opinion of statins - well its probably unrepeatable and he defo does not recommend them for women.
We may find in a few years time that GP's will be spouting low carb is the way to go. I wonder tho' if they will, can we hear the knocking of the money men, 'were your diabetic complications caused by bad advise, then you may be due some compensation'. Maybe I should start one. kerching.
Seriously again well done for standing your ground.

 

[Unbeliever]

Sorry Cuillie -you have just experienced the "one-size -fits-all -and -nurse-knows -more -about-it-than -I -do standard diabetes reatmentdiabetes treatment.
Statins are very much a personal decision and I am afraid I don't know enough about BP medication to comment but i just wanted to say that newly qualified Drs are probably less likely to have enlightened attitudes than the "old school". The new and fairly newly qualified have all beeen told that self -testing of Bg is not only unnecessary but harmful and have no incentive and little opportunity o learn more about it because it is accepted that the urses will do he bulk of the work.

This is a very sad situaion for most patients .A Practice Nurse following strict guidelines not backed up wih a drs traiing and experience is a poor subsitute. The DSNs in hospitals are generally much beter qualified and experienced.
I think far too much is asked of the Practice nurses. It would help if one standard qualification was required but this is not the case.

All is not lost however, you may find that the Nurse is indeed , better informed than the doctor - or a least ThAT inexperienced Dr.
That feeling of disappointment will be familiar to many of us. It is as if you have become some sort of second-class patient isn't it? No longer seen as an individual or treated with the same respect but forced o comply with the Practice Proocol on diabees "care"

Its early days yet . You will no doubt find your way through or around it all. Shame it has to be like that ..

 

[IanD]

It is very disappointing when you change you lifestyle to improve your health, report your success to the health professionals, & get told off. What do they know? They aren't diabetic, & in any case they are taught that diabetes is progressive. You are challenging "received truth" aka misinformation. Ask them, "Have other patients had good BGs by the high carb diet? If I am losing weight, keeping well, & have low BGs, how can I be doing something wrong?"

If you were to contact the DUK Careline - 020 7424 1031 - with your experience, you would get a reply something like "You need carbs for energy & other aspects of health, but if you follow the low carb route, make sure it is in consultation with your Dr & dietitian. Low carb may work for you, but we cannot change our advice to base your diet on carbs."

I did a few days ago - after my presentation to the Hounslow cardio & diabetes support group. She did suggest I wrote to their research dept. I quote the reply:

I contacted DUK to discuss my experience, but the lady who spoke at our meeting, & to whom I gave a copy of my talk, wasn't available, & hasn't responded to my messages on her answerphone. I was passed on to Careline & she told me I needed carbs. "Perhaps my health improvement by cutting out the obvious carbs was because I suddenly became wheat intolerant#." She did suggest I write to the research dept, so I did.

The reply quoted the links I quoted to them. There may be perhaps a glimmer of hope on the far horizon:

I would like to reassure you that the Policy and Care Improvement Team are currently working through the Diabetes UK publications (both printed and electronic) to reflect all of the changes to the recommended diet for diabetes that feature in this report. Please bare ($sic) with us whilst this lengthy process is undertaken.

Or perhaps it's a mirage - the Careline team haven't been told.

# Obviously I am, because of diabetes, but not in the coeliac sense.
$ I have no intention of joining a diabetic naturist group.

 

[IanD]

Do you know your blood pressure? Ideally it should be below 130/80. Blood pressure machines are £10-20.

Do you know your cholesterol - lipid profile? "They" want total chol to be below 4.0, but its link to heart health is not as clear-cut as they make out. I can't take statins - the muscle pain was ruining my health & my Dr agreed I should stop. I'd rather be fit & well & facing an undefined risk than be in pain. My total chol is above 5, & various screening tests have not suggested any heart problems.

 

[MaryJ]

Hi cullie

I'm sorry you left so deflated, its a kick in the bum isn't it. You've worked hard, made significant changes to YOUR life to improve YOUR health, taken ownership of YOUR diabetes.

I can remember it, so clearly, smiling, sat upright waiting, just waiting for the praise. Which didn't come.

Now I think, sod you, I will do it my way and you will eventually acknowledge I'm a medical marvel and tell everyone to follow low-carb. lol Oh I so wish they would wake up.

ANYWAYSUP - well done cullie, you have done brilliantly, don't stop now, look forward to your results and come here for your support and praise.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Mary x