NHS - it’s all about sugar

[HenryBennett]

I’m just watching the rerun of Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight For Good.

In the introduction Kerridge says he lost 12 stone on a low carb diet. Thereafter carbs aren’t mentioned and it’s all, and only, about calories and low fat. Carbs are never again mentioned. One of the cohort is a nurse who “has to advise patients who have diabetes”. She advises them it’s all about sugar - no mention of carbs. Another young woman has been diagnosed with T2 so wants to lose weight. Cut to Kerridge saying he’s, therefore, advising low calorie apple tart!

Carbs are mentioned once and thats it. Mind boggling!

 

[SB2015]

I’m just watching the rerun of Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight For Good.

In the introduction Kerridge says he lost 12 stone on a low carb diet. Thereafter carbs aren’t mentioned and it’s all, and only, about calories and low fat. Carbs are never again mentioned. One of the cohort is a nurse who “has to advise patients who have diabetes”. She advises them it’s all about sugar - no mention of carbs. Another young woman has been diagnosed with T2 so wants to lose weight. Cut to Kerridge saying he’s, therefore, advising low calorie apple tart!

Carbs are mentioned once and thats it. Mind boggling!

I regularly end up shouting at the radio or television where this focus on sugar is raised. It drives me bonkers as people then often continue with high carb intake and wonder why their glucose is sky high.

 

[HenryBennett]

My T2 was a secondary health issue when I was in the Cardiac Care Unit. I was visited by a diabetes nurse and then a dietician (low fat diet discussed).

I came home with a programme covering physical activity over a number of weeks following a heart attack. The first week I was to do little more than come downstairs in the morning and then upstairs to go to bed at night.

I used this time to scour the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK websites. It was DUK and these forums that informed me about the medical issues surrounding diabetes and the importance of carbohydrates. I’ve had one visit to my DN which was mildly useful.

Heart health wise I’m confident in the NHS, notwithstanding the suspension of most of the support due to the Coronavirus. But as regards diabetes the NHS is way off the curve.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I'm a classic example of the misguided notion that it's all about sugar. I pretty well gave up sweets, chocolate, cakes and biscuits years ago for that reason and going forward tried to ensure I didn't exceed the adult RDA of 90g of sugar from things like flavoured yogurt and breakfast cereal. However, I continued with a low-fat diet high in carbs in the form of bread, pasta and potatoes in the belief that I was doing the right thing. And here I am.

Martin

I want to ‘like‘ that but only with a ‘sad face’ @Anitram

Must be so frustrating to have diligently followed advice that you now recognise was unhelpful

 

[Midnightcatpatrol]

My T2 was a secondary health issue when I was in the Cardiac Care Unit. I was visited by a diabetes nurse and then a dietician (low fat diet discussed).

I came home with a programme covering physical activity over a number of weeks following a heart attack. The first week I was to do little more than come downstairs in the morning and then upstairs to go to bed at night.

I used this time to scour the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK websites. It was DUK and these forums that informed me about the medical issues surrounding diabetes and the importance of carbohydrates. I’ve had one visit to my DN which was mildly useful.

Heart health wise I’m confident in the NHS, notwithstanding the suspension of most of the support due to the Coronavirus. But as regards diabetes the NHS is way off the curve.

It must be dependent on location as is much of the NHS. Heck, I'm not an endocrine physician but in what I do the service is massively different in hospitals 30 minutes from one another. Since diagnosis 4 weeks ago I've had nothing but good words for the team where I am. Hospital lab picked up bloods and sent ambulance, next morning met my nurse and she's checked in weekly since. Had my carbs training, was immediately told off for counting sugars only (embarrassing).

 

[HenryBennett]

It must be dependent on location as is much of the NHS. Heck, I'm not an endocrine physician but in what I do the service is massively different in hospitals 30 minutes from one another.

Sadly true.

 

[DaveB]

The problem is both PHE and even the EU. PHE preaches Sugar/Fat/Salt reduction which is mindless and just wrong. Our food package labelling includes Sugar/Fat/Salt and Calories on the front and you have to look at the back for the Carbs; this comes from the EU as well as PHE. Much of it is the result of the very powerful food lobby which works behind the scenes to influence what we are taught. Most of the national institutions including all the ones covering dieticians and the NHS of course parrot the same biased mantra. For those of us who think it's wrong need to constantly challenge it. I've just written to Which? magazine complaining as this month's issue spouts the same old Sugar/Fat/Salt/Calories mantra from a dietician.

 

[HenryBennett]

The problem is both PHE and even the EU. PHE preaches Sugar/Fat/Salt reduction which is mindless and just wrong. Our food package labelling includes Sugar/Fat/Salt and Calories on the front and you have to look at the back for the Carbs; this comes from the EU as well as PHE. Much of it is the result of the very powerful food lobby which works behind the scenes to influence what we are taught. Most of the national institutions including all the ones covering dieticians and the NHS of course parrot the same biased mantra. For those of us who think it's wrong need to constantly challenge it. I've just written to Which? magazine complaining as this month's issue spouts the same old Sugar/Fat/Salt/Calories mantra from a dietician.

Also too true.

 

[MarkGeordie]

I remember when I was first diagnosed at 13 and the conversations the paediatric DSN & dietician had with my parents. It all focused on reduce sugar intake, you can eat anything else.

As I grew up I learnt different.

I remember my first consultant as a child, even at such a young age I clashed with him badly and was very vocal for my age.

My GP was fantastic, I got moved to the young adult clinic early. Such a relief as they were so much better.

 

[mikeydt1]

seems that who ever within the DUK campaigns team hasn't got the message about T2 and cutting down on carbs, seems she was more towards weight loss and yes cutting out sugar.

the NHS are now running a scheme and the photo below clearly shows something which T2 are told to avoid!

any questions should i think be put to DUK and what their thinking is.

 

[HenryBennett]

Reports in the newspapers and on the news that losing 10kgs in weight puts T2 into remission. Low calorie diet will be recommended by GPs who will prescribe shakes and soups.

Is that a step forward? Is it a step backwards? Or two forward and one back?

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

The older generation, (eighty years plus). Always refer to diabetes as 'sugar'. My elderly neighbour has said to me her GP thinks shes got 'Sugar'.

 

[HenryBennett]

The older generation, (eighty years plus). Always refer to diabetes as 'sugar'. My elderly neighbour has said to me her GP thinks shes got 'Sugar'.

I’ve not heard that used but it doesn’t surprise me 🙄

 

[grovesy]

Reports in the newspapers and on the news that losing 10kgs in weight puts T2 into remission. Low calorie diet will be recommended by GPs who will prescribe shakes and soups.

Is that a step forward? Is it a step backwards? Or two forward and one back?

I suggest you look up the work of Dr Roy Taylor.

 

[HenryBennett]

I suggest you look up the work of Dr Roy Taylor.

Also Dr David Unwin.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Also Dr David Unwin.

Unwin was a student of Taylor's, apparently.

 

[nonethewiser]

Reports in the newspapers and on the news that losing 10kgs in weight puts T2 into remission. Low calorie diet will be recommended by GPs who will prescribe shakes and soups.

Is that a step forward? Is it a step
backwards? Or two forward and one back?

Step forward my friend.

Wife was on cusp of diabetes, might even have tipped over.

Lost 5 stone & bloods all normal again, did it thru calorie controlled diet, not anywhere as restricted as one being discussed but losing visceral fat around pancreas is must, for anyone pre or newly diagnosed diabetic.

 

[ianf0ster]

Unwin was a student of Taylor's, apparently.

No, Unwin's interaction with Taylor only came when Unwin wanted to know how to publish his success in using LCHF. Taylor, despite claiming its all about calories, was at least helpful in letting Unwin know what to measure and how to keep records.

I feel that the reason the NHS emphasis is on Calories is that they can still keep the Big Food companies happy.
The same applies to DUK - if there are 2 approaches which can work in most cases, why not choose the one which keeps your sponsors happy?

The trouble is that although sustained weight loss works if enough weight is lost and maintained, this immediately puts off slim T2D's like me. I've seen estimates that as many as 10% of T2D's aren't (and never have been) obese. Putting them on a starvation diet is difficult to say the least!

The great thing about cutting carbs is that it works for both slim and obese T2's and also helps T1's maintain good BG control with lower use of Insulin. - Try doing that with a starvation diet!

 

[Edwin Wine]

I’m just watching the rerun of Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight For Good.

In the introduction Kerridge says he lost 12 stone on a low carb diet. Thereafter carbs aren’t mentioned and it’s all, and only, about calories and low fat. Carbs are never again mentioned. One of the cohort is a nurse who “has to advise patients who have diabetes”. She advises them it’s all about sugar - no mention of carbs. Another young woman has been diagnosed with T2 so wants to lose weight. Cut to Kerridge saying he’s, therefore, advising low calorie apple tart!

Carbs are mentioned once and thats it. Mind boggling!

There is a lot of discussion about carbohydrates and issues such as GI. Everyone reacts differently to nutrients and has different needs regarding maintaining BG levels. However there is in my experience one quite simple issue related to weight loss which works for me. If you consume less energy( of all types including fats) than you expend then over the long run you will lose weight. If you excercise the diff between input and output is larger. Sure you can convert fat to denser muscle etc but if you burn 3000 calories a day but only consume 2000 you probably will in the end lose weight.

 

[grovesy]

Unwin is a Low Carber.
In the years of being on this forum it is clear what works is not universal to everyone. Many cannot do much exercise and some have been on Steriods that has triggered Diabetes.