Why won't we tell Diabetics the truth?

[Squire Fulwood]

Ever since I was dragooned into the surgery I am not sure that anyone has told me the truth about anything. Take these statins because no-one has ever complained about them. That's what I was told as DN stroked the box. What are you having for lunch? I said I was thinking about KFC. She pulled a face and said the clue was in the name and I shouldn't eat it. The original recipe KFC is about 1g of carbs so why shouldn't I eat it.

Don't eat animal fats or you will die. Stuff that. DN said I was only to have skimmed milk and I said "No". She jumped since no-one had ever said no to her before.

I find that HCP's , however well meaning are manipulative and if you can see through that then you will be a happier patient.

 

[chalup]

I did not take things to mean that the broccoli and kale on the list are bad for diabetics. I took it to mean that not everything on that list is suitable for a type 2 diabetic which is what the article is aimed at, type 2. I certainly cannot tolerate the grains or fruit but I am not everyone. A friend of mine just recently had a heart attack. He has been running his blood glucose in the teens for years and has always maintained that that was fine. He is now on insulin and claiming that the heart attack was because he did not work last summer and that it had nothing to do with diabetes. His wife, who is a registered nurse, looked at me in horror when I mentioned low carb and said "but you NEED carbs". When I asked her why I seem to be fine after years of eating low carb on and off she had no answer. They have been eating low fat and high carb for decades following the official guidelines as taught to them at a diabetes education course. He has neuropathy, very slow healing, and now has had a heart attack and progressed to insulin. The education given to both heath care providers and patients has to change or people will continue to get sicker while working hard to do the "right thing". My friend is only in his fifties and not overweight.

 

[slinkimalinki]

Very well written. However, I believe that the reason that health care professionals don't tell type 2 diabetics the truth is that...dramatic pause....they don't know the truth! At least I hope that's the reason.

You know what, if WE can use the internet and do research, why on earth can't our health professionals??

 

[chalup]

How many different health issues does a GP see in just one day in the office? They are people too with lives and families and only so many hours in the day. There is no way one person in a few spare hours a day can keep up with all the latest information in a hundred different areas. It is the people who do nothing but look after diabetics that really need to get it together. Diabetes management training both for HCP's and patients needs a complete overhaul.

 

[Oldvatr]

You know what, if WE can use the internet and do research, why on earth can't our health professionals??

When you consider all the different things that a GP would have to research. We have a vested interest in our own condition which puts the blinkers on and so we do not need to look too deeply at what may be affecting others, We find time to research a narrow spectrum interest, a GP does not have this luxury. I am now retired, so I have the luxury of time

I think that your comment would be better directed to nutritionalists, specialist HCP such as DCN's and CDE's. Most importantly, those in Management that control the purse strings and make the decisions, i.e. the accountants. Fat chance of that happening!

 

[bulkbiker]

There's no money in the truth...
Fasting and low carbing are free...

 

[ellagy]

Do you have a link to Dr Unwin's dietary recommendations? I for one would certainly not think that apples, oats or barley would fit in my low carb diet. Firstly because of their carb content (fructose being especially bad) and secondly because they just aren't very nice to eat.. do you really prefer oats over a steak?

I think I might just like oats over a steak bulkbiker! Especially the way my husband makes the oats!

 

[dawnmc]

Until someone threatens to sue with cast iron evidence that they have followed the guidelines for diet the same advice will continue to be put out. Like smoking, the evidence is slow to accumulate and there are huge vested interests involved in keeping the current status quo but one day someone, somewhere will start a ball rolling. Unfortunately it will be too late for many people but by educating the people I work with and meet informally perhaps there will start a small ground swell. Generally the body works logically; if you put carbohydrate in, the digestion breaks it down to be absorbed as sugar. Excess sugar is stored as fat which will eventually have an impact on the ability of the organs to work properly.
A thought for those who trawl the medical posts. Is there any evidence to suggest that people who were thin/underweight as children or teens are more prone to T2 diabetes if they gain weight with age?

Don't know about the evidence, but I was a skinny kid/adult right up until the menopause, put on 2 stone and became diabetic.

 

[Brunneria]

I think one of the risks of being a 'normal' (as in non-D) skinny kid is that you grow up never having to think about food except to wonder where the next unlimited load of calories, carbs and fats is going to come from. Must make it doubly hard when it becomes necessary to control/cut back/eat sensibly.

Having had insulin resistance since childhood those hard lessons came earlier for me (around 8 years old), so there has never been a time in my life when I haven't viewed food as a double edged sword. I would have found it unbearable to know how to eat freely and then have to cut back.

 

[Inchindown]

I'm pretty sure the origin of my eating problems goes all the way back to when I was in school.

We didn't always have food to eat, so I would always wolf my food down when it was available. I would say I was almost malnourished as a child. I was definitely skinny at this time.

That habit followed me for the rest of my life until I was diagnosed with diabetes a few weeks ago.

Whether being skinny as a kid has led to my diagnosis I wouldn't like to say. I suspect 50 years of overeating junk food would be the principal cause.

To be honest. I'm surprised I was only diagnosed with t2 a few weeks ago. By the way. I know I wasn't diabetic about 6 months ago as I had some blood tests then which ruled out diabetes.

 

[Oldvatr]

I think I might just like oats over a steak bulkbiker! Especially the way my husband makes the oats!

Think most vegetarians and vegans and those on WPBF would also say this. Somehow Quorn steak substitutes and Linda McCartney does not ring my bell either.

 

[ellagy]

j

Think most vegetarians and vegans and those on WPBF would also say this. Somehow Quorn steak substitutes and Linda McCartney does not ring my bell either.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good steak too but given the choice I would go for oats. Cos I cant have oats! I would tie my husband to the cooker if I could!! BTW I was vegetarian for 16yrs and then vegan for 5yrs.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

j

Don't get me wrong. I love a good steak too but given the choice I would go for oats. Cos I cant have oats! I would tie my husband to the cooker if I could!! BTW I was vegetarian for 16yrs and then vegan for 5yrs.

I love oats, but haven't had them since diagnosis despite promising my relentless, carb-pushing dietitian that I would lol Maybe one day. I have read of people mixing oats with nuts and fat to pad them out and make them less spiky.

 

[ellagy]

I love oats, but haven't had them since diagnosis despite promising my relentless, carb-pushing dietitian that I would lol Maybe one day. I have read of people mixing oats with nuts and fat to pad them out and make them less spiky.

I think we should stop talking oats! Despite having my usual lunch it is making me hungry!!!

 

[Indy51]

Who'd've thunk it? Oats as food porn? Can't imagine it myself

 

[Doriand]

Interesting article

http://robbwolf.com/2017/01/05/why-wont-we-tell-diabetics-the-truth/

I used to subscribe to the "Diabetic Living" magazines photographed in that article.This magazine 'dedicated to improving the lives of Diabetics' is supported by Diabetes Australia and the Austrialian Dieticicians Association. Just looking at the food pictured at the front cover shows the carb laden **** Diabetics are encouraged to eat ... because it's low in fat!!! Too bad about the bsl spike!

 

[Oldvatr]

My thoughts, exactly! It was clear immediately that I had no further interest in this publication.

However, I am sure the blogger writing the article was using the pics to say exactly the same, and I do not withdraw my support for their article.