IMPORTANT - Inappropriate advice and reporting posts

[Northerner]

We have had a few occasions recently where a conflict has occurred because of inappropriate advice being given, particularly when given to new members. I just wanted to make clear that the approach to dealing with these posts is to use the Report option so that the Moderators can be alerted to them and act accordingly - we get a red flag on our screens and this can then take us directly to the post in question, plus your reasons for reporting it, so we can act on it. Confronting members giving the advice in the thread can lead to unhelpful conflict that the new member will certainly not wish to see on their thread and leave a tangle of posts for the Moderators to sort out, or if that can't be done sensibly, the thread closed - which is the last thing we want to see.

What do I mean about 'inappropriate advice'? This is advice that seeks to instantly pitch the new member into some drastic dietary or lifestyle changes that may simply upset or worry them more and leave them even more confused than they were before they posted. There are, of course, many strategies for managing diabetes, particularly Type 2, but our approach here should always be to reassure the new member and provide them with information and strategies that will help them understand how diabetes affects them personally and guide them to sustainable management of their condition. It's a bit of a cliché, but diabetes really is a marathon, not a sprint - there is no point in going off hell for leather for the first 'mile' and then collapsing in a heap with 25 miles left to go because no-one explained how to train yourself properly to manage the whole distance.

We are not against diets such as LCHF and Atkins (for example) by any means - they have proven extremely successful for a lot of people - but they are not the only solution, nor are they necessary for a lot of people. I appreciate that some people may have instantly turned to radical changes and found it worked very well for them, but until you know much more about your audience, you should not assume it will work for them - and may possibly be dangerous, since you can't possibly know what other issues a person may have.

The Moderators will assess and act on any reported posts, however well-meaning they are intended to be (and I know that the majority are only posted with the best of intentions).

This is a good community, and it is important that all members do their best to keep it friendly, informative and supportive, thank you 🙂

 

[robert@fm]

There have been times when I've got pretty much fed-up with both sides of the LCHF debate, and the fanatics thereof; those who claim it to be the miracle diet to control all health problems (including those who have difficulty digesting large amounts of fat, such as those who have had pancreatectomies?) and those who claim it to be a "fad" (one which has been successfully followed for over 150 years, nearly four times as long as the Eatwell diet). Anyone who has been following this forum, and the various stories of its members, should know by now that there is never any "one size fits all" approach, or at least not one which never fails. 🙄

 

[trophywench]

But quite a lot of new members don't follow the forum before posting with Help me? do they Robert? and I for one can't blame them - they feel helpless and see the forum might be able to assist them. Good - cos it can and will.

However it is perfectly true that not everyone (and I'm perfectly sure I'm in there too) starts off by saying eg Dunno if this might help, but it helped me - blah blah - or even when I'm addressing a specifically T2 'thing' - Dunno etc - but lots of folk on here say it helped them, so perhaps it could help you too - blah blah.

 

[mikeyB]

I don't think anything Northerner wrote needs any discussion. As I've said elsewhere we were all ignorant of diabetes once. Think back to that, and what it was like when you knew nothing. That should always be on your mind when guiding newbies into the dark arts.

 

[Jacq]

As a newbie im reading this and I agree with Mike,

 

[Neety41]

We have had a few occasions recently where a conflict has occurred because of inappropriate advice being given, particularly when given to new members. I just wanted to make clear that the approach to dealing with these posts is to use the Report option so that the Moderators can be alerted to them and act accordingly - we get a red flag on our screens and this can then take us directly to the post in question, plus your reasons for reporting it, so we can act on it. Confronting members giving the advice in the thread can lead to unhelpful conflict that the new member will certainly not wish to see on their thread and leave a tangle of posts for the Moderators to sort out, or if that can't be done sensibly, the thread closed - which is the last thing we want to see.

What do I mean about 'inappropriate advice'? This is advice that seeks to instantly pitch the new member into some drastic dietary or lifestyle changes that may simply upset or worry them more and leave them even more confused than they were before they posted. There are, of course, many strategies for managing diabetes, particularly Type 2, but our approach here should always be to reassure the new member and provide them with information and strategies that will help them understand how diabetes affects them personally and guide them to sustainable management of their condition. It's a bit of a cliché, but diabetes really is a marathon, not a sprint - there is no point in going off hell for leather for the first 'mile' and then collapsing in a heap with 25 miles left to go because no-one explained how to train yourself properly to manage the whole distance.

We are not against diets such as LCHF and Atkins (for example) by any means - they have proven extremely successful for a lot of people - but they are not the only solution, nor are they necessary for a lot of people. I appreciate that some people may have instantly turned to radical changes and found it worked very well for them, but until you know much more about your audience, you should not assume it will work for them - and may possibly be dangerous, since you can't possibly know what other issues a person may have.

The Moderators will assess and act on any reported posts, however well-meaning they are intended to be (and I know that the majority are only posted with the best of intentions).

This is a good community, and it is important that all members do their best to keep it friendly, informative and supportive, thank you 🙂

Very well said, I do find some people insist that their way is the only way and it's not! Not everyone finds that their blood sugar shoots up if they eat a slice of bread! I have had this discussion before now with people

 

[Wirrallass]

Each to their own as we have individually learned as to what foods we can tolerate - and those which we can't - that's why we suggest to newbies to test test & test - and when. Testing is paramount in order to maintain healthy blood glucose levels and we endeavour to advise in this respect. That done, they can decide for themselves which diet they wish to follow. Of course there are many newbies who take advice re the various diets - sometimes it works for them - sometimes not. I chose the LCHF but I eat healthily anyway - apart from the treats that is, now and then. Oh and well said Northie.
WL

 

[Mariam Agha]

As a newbie in this forum, and as a DUK community champion, and as a volunteer with DUK for more than 3 years now, I come across different kind of situations and people come to me asking for help and advise about their diabetes.
Honestly, although I do have adequate knowledge that allows me to keep my diabetes under control, I am not qualified as a health professional to provide people with everything they need to know to manage their diabetes. Simply because everybody is different, and a particular advise may work for some, but not for others.
However, I can only advise them to:
(1) adhere to their anti-diabetes treatments;
(2) adopt a healthy lifestyle (i.e. engaging in healthy and balanced diet and keeping physically active);
and (3) talk to their healthcare provider about their health concerns.

 

[Northerner]

However, I can only advise them to:
(1) adhere to their anti-diabetes treatments;
(2) adopt a healthy lifestyle (i.e. engaging in healthy and balanced diet and keeping physically active);
and (3) talk to their healthcare provider about their health concerns.

And...(4) Join the forum and get support and share experiences with others! 🙂

 

[Amigo]

And...(4) Join the forum and get support and share experiences with others! 🙂

I find that a lot of people come on here because they're struggling to adhere to advice number 2 and advice 1 is becoming inadequate through not being adequately assisted by the people suggested in advice 3! Advice 4 I can't fault however!

It is good advice in an ideal world with ideal medical practitioners however.

 

[Mariam Agha]

I find that a lot of people come on here because they're struggling to adhere to advice number 2 and advice 1 is becoming inadequate through not being adequately assisted by the people suggested in advice 3! Advice 4 I can't fault however!

It is good advice in an ideal world with ideal medical practitioners however.

I absolutely agree with you 100% 🙂

 

[Wirrallass]

No disrespect Mariam but IMHO Northies advice number 4 is by far the best advice 100% so well said Northie. Prior to joining this forum in January this year - my knowledge of T2 Diabetes was very limited. As I have said in another thread, the endless advice - help & massive support that forum members freely gave to me as a Newby - and I hasten to add still do - is overwhelming. I have learned so much here from like members imparting invaluable advice from their own personal experiences, for which I am ever grateful. I consider all the advice I have - and am being given is appropriate and honest and I don't believe for one moment that I've been given any to the contrary. I totally agree it is important that we ensure we don't give inappropriate advice to each other and particularly to Newbies - tho occasionally there might have been one or two of us who let the side down, tho not intentionly🙄
WL

 

[trophywench]

And the additional advice I'd say, is always to err on the side of caution when saying 'I think what I'd do is whatever' - and if you don't know and can't help directly - try to signpost people to wherever it might be they might find help available.

The only time I haven't done that is twice - both times telling - well INSISTING - folk to get whoever they were talking about (once themselves, another a chap's dad) to A&E pdq without passing Go and eschewing the £200. Both times the person was in DKA.

 

[BIM]

I'd like to add that whilst members can gain support from others living with diabetes, it's important that those offering advice make it clear it is an opinion that they offer, not facts. In 2011 I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes and over the next months still felt unwell, despite medication and a healthy diet. I joined the forum and someone suggested that if I cut out my daily homemade cookie my levels would go down. Another said my carb intake was too high because of the oats in the cookie. So I stopped eating certain foods despite being underweight. At the end of the year I was diagnosed as T1. My specialist advised me to take care when posting on this forum.

 

[Bubbsie]

BIM the advice you were given was in respect of your being diagnosed as type 2...in those circumstances I probably would have offered the same advice...as you say it was a suggestion...nothing more...controlling our diabetes is about reducing our carb intake...or eating the 'right' sort of carbs to achieve acceptable BG levels (simple but that's how I understand it)...the real problem seems to be you were misdiagnosed...many here have had similar difficulties...your consultants comments appear slightly disingenuous in those circumstances... I am confused in that respect...what is the consultant suggesting...the members who made those suggestions (in light of your diagnosis as type 2) are somehow responsible for the misdiagnosis...or making your condition worse...surely that responsibility rests with the medical team who diagnosed you as type 2 (wrongly)...as said this can/does happen...not intentionally...many here have had to battle with their healthcare professionals to obtain the right diagnosis...have their concerns listened to...this forum has been an invaluable source of support for me & many others left to fend for themselves...I would hate to see others 'put off' by your consultants comments...I wonder if s/he has ever visited the forum...here advice is given based on individual members own experiences...it's not mandatory to accept that advice...it is then up to each member to decide if it's right for them.

 

[SB2015]

Hi Bim and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and glad that you have now got the correct one.

There are a lot of adults on here who were misdiagnosed as T2 and given incorrect medication, which does not help a person with T1 as this is an autoimmune disease in which the Beta cells that make insulin are destroyed. I was fortunate that my GP correctly spotted the T1 straight away, and my rapid weight loss was a clear indication. I was reassured that nothing in my diet can have caused the T1, it just happens.

I know that I have found that there is a lot of useful information that I have picked up from others living with Diabetes. As always there are different views and I use the information to develop my own management system.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Hi BIM.
As we are dealing with peoples health, physical and mental well-being here, I think we should take some care in what and how we post.
I've also found some health care professionals to be dismissive of patient involvement, being pro active and having any information.
I've seen told not to come on this site because it "just confuses me.". *{looks round and lowers my voice}* I'm still here.

 

[Amigo]

I'd like to add that whilst members can gain support from others living with diabetes, it's important that those offering advice make it clear it is an opinion that they offer, not facts. In 2011 I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes and over the next months still felt unwell, despite medication and a healthy diet. I joined the forum and someone suggested that if I cut out my daily homemade cookie my levels would go down. Another said my carb intake was too high because of the oats in the cookie. So I stopped eating certain foods despite being underweight. At the end of the year I was diagnosed as T1. My specialist advised me to take care when posting on this forum.

With respect BIM, the posters on here gave you advice based on a medical misdiagnosis. Perhaps it's the medics who should take more care. Posters were simply responding to the inaccurate diagnosis you'd been given and for a type 2, it could have been very sound advice. Telling you to watch the carb content in cookies is hardly detrimental to anyone's health and I'm only glad now they've found out what was actually wrong. Didn't the medics notice you were underweight?
It has to be an absolute given that advice, shared experience and suggestions on here can never replace medical advice. I'm an Administrator on a huge, international cancer site and it's the underpinning principle at all times. Regards, Amigo

 

[BIM]

Actually the poster also advised I increase my T2 medication. Anyway, I was only offering my opinion but am clearly saying something that makes the Forum defensive. Amigo: I know watching carbs isn't 'detrimental', I'm quite intelligent.

 

[Amigo]

Actually the poster also advised I increase my T2 medication. Anyway, I was only offering my opinion but am clearly saying something that makes the Forum defensive. Amigo: I know watching carbs isn't 'detrimental', I'm quite intelligent.

Sorry, I'm not being defensive BIM but I do get cross with medics who blame others for their mis-diagnosis and what comes from it. Had you been diagnosed as type 2, it would have been appropriate in general carb advice terms and nobody would suggest even a type 1 keep their weight up using cookies. But you know these things which is why you'll have pursued it further.
I'd never suggest, or support someone else advising you to increase medication without medical advice. It would be interesting to go back and see that discussion.
I'm actually surprised, if posters knew you were underweight, that nobody suggested exploring type 1 because it's a common theme on here and many have benefitted from that advice.

Important thing is I hope all is working out well now and you're absolutely entitled to express your opinion on this. It's merely a debate and not meant to be combative. Best wishes.