Carb counting course today....

[lauraw1983]

Sorry I haven't been about in a while guys, I am going to go and catch up on posts!

Today I went to a carb counting course with dietician and a group of others too, there were 7 of us there. All type 1 except one man who was type 2 but new to being on insulin.

Anyway it turned out it was all stuff I already knew really anyway, from being on here mostly. 😉 Still glad I went along though, I am now on the waiting list for a DAFNE course too but could be up to 12months.

I was absolutely shocked at how little some of the people there knew about their condition though - one lady had been diabetic for 11 years, and had had a baby about a year ago I think, and was saying she's lost her hypo awareness most of the time. She is on huge doses of insulin though (40u lantus at night and 16u humalog at each mealtime, regardless of what she is eating and is having hypos all over the place - no flipping wonder 😱 She was about the same height and weight as me and I know everyone's doses differ but her blood glucose is apparently all over the place and until she came under the hospital here now (I think she moved a while ago to the area from what I gathered) she was only doing BG tests about once a MONTH!!! How can any consultant/GP/anyone involved in diabetic care not be informing people about their condition more?! Potentially she is in charge of a medication which could kill her and hardly had any information about how to use it safely and properly. They should be ashamed of themselves, although of course I realise it IS a hugely self managing condition, this lady seemed keen to learn more yet didn't even know what foods were carbs and what weren't either! Is this not very basic info that at an HBA1C checkup should be being relayed to her?

I guess I have had my eyes opened a lot today, I had no idea some people were left so on their own with this rubbish condition - and it made me even more glad for this place!!!

Also had a chat with my DSN last week, I presumed I would have no chance of a pump in the near future, and while there is a 3 year waiting list here for them for adults, she explained the criteria for them and to ask the consultant in September when I see her about it as they are the ones who can place people on the list! She was explaining to me more how they work and how they benefit people, it sounds brilliant IMO - I want on that waiting list!

 

[Northerner]

Hi Laura, we missed you at the Glasgow Meet, hope you can make the next one 🙂

It is truly frightening how little some people know isn't it? And as you say, especially when on something as potentially dangerous as insulin - no wonder she;s lost her hypo awareness, and how on earth did she manage when she was pregnant? 😱 Shocking!

Hope DAFNE comes around quicker than 12 months, and that you can get on that pump waiting list (although I don't understand why they make people wait if they need them).

 

[lauraw1983]

Hi Laura, we missed you at the Glasgow Meet, hope you can make the next one

It is truly frightening how little some people know isn't it? And as you say, especially when on something as potentially dangerous as insulin - no wonder she;s lost her hypo awareness, and how on earth did she manage when she was pregnant? 😱 Shocking!

Hope DAFNE comes around quicker than 12 months, and that you can get on that pump waiting list (although I don't understand why they make people wait if they need them).

I know, I just replied to the post - I tried my best to get childcare but it was partly my own fault as it had crept up on me a bit and I hadn't realised it was when it was and hadn't organised it earlier! Looked good, and I promise to make the next one!

I have no idea re; pregnancy, I think it was when she was pregnant that it got worse too.Scary, for her and her baby

All down to money re; pumps -it's crazy because the Scottish Government have just allocated more funding for pump therapy and every child under 18 is to be offered one and they have more pumps (well money for pumps) under my health board than they have children to give them to right now, yet adults still have this 3 year waiting list! My DSN did say these lists obviously do change all the time, and if more funding is allocated that would help too but just one of these things...however I figure the quicker I can get on a list, the quicker I may get one sometime! 🙄 It would make my life so much easier in so many ways- in the meantime my next challenge is to try to work out my insulin doses with exercise too because at the moment I am doing nothing for fear of hypos!! 😱

 

[trophywench]

Re pump, yes 100% - it costs nowt to ask and if they don't know you are interested then you'll never get on the list. Just do it.

Well Ilearned about carbs protein and fats from a variety of places - firstly my mother. She wasn't all that well educated, but she knew about starch and sugar and protein and fat, though not the science. And too much sugar and starch and fat weren't good for you; cooking through the War made her know it's quiteOK and very healthy to eat shedloads of veg and some fruit, though of course it had to be wha was grown in England and if possible in your own garden. Berry fruits rule OK then. Plus she (as her mother had before her) used to bottle things like plums in Kilner jars when they were in season, to last through the winter. And make boatloads of jam ! And salt runner beans. And grow and dry herbs ..... And salad.

Buy parsley or mint? What's that? - you nip out with the Kitchen scissors and snip some off !

Then my sis did Cookery O level so all that was about preparing properly balanced meals appropriate to the occasion and she'd talk about it with my mom and of course, I listened. Stuff like eg fresh tomatoes being acidic and adding a tsp of sugar if they weren't mega ripe and you were cooking with them. Yes even in spag bol.

Then in turn I did Biology O level (remember the test for starch? -pour Iodine on a slice of bread, goes a beautiful bright deep purple in front of your very eyes!) and by that time I know all 3 of us would have been on a diet ! Then it was all about the calories and not wasting em on empty stuff like alcohol and chocolate and c**p and yes - keeping all the components balanced again.

I didn't understand for a long time, how children could possibly grow up not knowing any of this? Until I discovered - some women/mothers don't cook !

What is worse - there are HCPs who don't either. (know this stuff or cook)

Looks like you and I are the oddities Laura, not the rest of em ......

 

[lauraw1983]

That is SO true!! Both my parents are great cooks and as a result I cook a lot too...always have done. Baking is my huge downfall, cos I always want to eat the result but I make a mean cupcake! 😉

I was truly shocked how little some of the people knew about food groups etc too. The dietician was very good but no wonder they have their work cut out for them with some patients....!

And yep agree re; the pump - I think I would be a very good 'student' to have one after today *polishes halo* haha! I am definitely asking to get on that list! I hope the consultant is nice, it is one I haven't seen before but my DSN assures me she is nice.