The Truth About Carbs

[SB2015]

Strawberries less sugar than rice? Now that's nice!

I particularly liked the look of the strawberries dipped in dark chocolate!!

 

[SB2015]

When I was first diagnosed in Sept last year the advice I was given by both the Nurse and my GP, or should I say total lack of advice, and the information I was offered was absolutely incorrect. I was leaving 2 days later for Shanghai in complete ignorance with useless guidance and to be quite honest in shock at the dx..
There seemed to be an ethos that "ok you are T2 diabetic and there is nothing you can do about it, take the pills", what absolute c**p. Without this forum and the people on it I would have been totally in the dark. As it was I gleaned everything I needed here. When I went for my first review in January this year and saw the Diabetes Doctor I registered a formal and strong complaint. Believe me I pulled no punches, I was furious and am still angry about the whole complete incompetence. I am afraid I view it as that, incompetence. I do now know for a fact this complaint was acted upon.
We need to be in a position to challenge what these "professionals" tell us and really fight back with facts, our own empirical data via testing etc. and experience.
What's more, we need to tell them they are outdated.

We become the specialists by living with it dayto day.
The training needs updating as does the advice from GPS and nurses.

 

[Beck S]

There are just so many things wrong with this statement..... I was never trained in the use of a BG meter (though really, need to be trained😱), but I attribute my very good control to being able to use the results of my testing to provide feedback into my lifestyle.... I despair at the medical professionals that downplay the importance of testing.

It's so daft. The really annoying thing is that she's in the same NHS trust area as me, she has access to the exact same resources/nurses as I do, but they've just never been offered to her.

 

[Ruby/London]

I agree @Bubbsie - but either way it's insulting and not in the patient's best interests
And when you are newly diagnosed you probably don't know enough about it to stand your ground and argue with them, after all they should know what they are talking about - how many people must there be out there though, who would willingly put the effort in to manage their diabetes better if only they were shown how, rather than just being told that the pills will fix it or that there's nothing you can do to stop it progressing! And how many people will end up having nasty complications which are expensive for the NHS to fix, who might not have done if they had been given some better advice and tools in the beginning?!

OK I'll get off my soap box now, I know I'm preaching to the converted here!! 😳

When I was first diagnosed, I wasn't sure what to do. The whole thing was like a Carry On film. I had an ECG with a reading like Spirograph, a 24 hour blood pressure monitor that stopped working every 90 minutes and was registering top readings of 200. Turns out the ECG and the BP monitor were both faulty. I had to go back for another ECG, this time clear. I have been taking my own blood pressure in the surgery and it is nothing as high as they said. I saw a locum GP who referred me to DESMOND. I am back on the 21st of June for a follow up and apart from that - nada.

One month on, I know if I hadn't started self testing my bg would still be all over the place. In the last 4 weeks, I am finding out what foods I need to avoid and the right amount of carbs I can eat without spiking my bg. In the first week, my bg readings were mostly in the 8s and sometimes a bit higher. In the second I had highs and some very low readings - too little carbs. This last week my bg levels have ranged from 5.8 - 7 - apart from the roast tatties episode. I am confident that when I do go back I will have some progress to report. My question would be, how can anyone monitor their dietary changes without self testing?

 

[Martin Canty]

My question would be, how can anyone monitor their dietary changes without self testing?

Exactly, Ruby..... I'm fortunate that here in the States there are no questions about testing (even though I'm limited to 2 strips per day)....

 

[Sally71]

Yes exactly, Ruby! Someone on here once said that trying to control diabetes without being allowed to self test is like driving your car down the motorway without being allowed to look at the speedo at all, but still being expected to maintain an average speed of exactly 70mph if you don't want to be arrested for bad driving. Ummm...
And yet there are people who are regularly told that their HbA1c isn't good enough and they need to improve it, but no they aren't allowed to self test because of any of the reasons mentioned above

 

[Maz2]

My relationship with my GP initially was horrendous...I was newly registered there...had a very quick cursory 1st appointment with him in which he missed some serious issues... I just felt I would have to change practices...so I wrote to him...outlined how I felt & what I was unhappy with...we had a long discussion about my concerns...now two years later I wouldn't change him & would wait for an appointment with him rather than see one of the others...if your GP ran late because he prolonged your appointment obviously he felt you needed that time.

That is a shame Bubbsie. Good for you telling him. I am not sure I would have the guts to do so. I suppose we are very lucky with our surgery although I am not yet diabetic so do not have experience of it from that point of view. My neighbour is diabetic and has been for 21 years; she is with same surgery and has no problems. Another lady I know said she is well looked after but she lives in a different area to me. You would think that with the number of people now with diabetes or pre-diabetes, and borderline diabetes they would train more nurses and doctors. I have never known so many people either pre-diabetic, borderline or actually diabetic.

 

[Bubbsie]

That is a shame Bubbsie. Good for you telling him. I am not sure I would have the guts to do so. I suppose we are very lucky with our surgery although I am not yet diabetic so do not have experience of it from that point of view. My neighbour is diabetic and has been for 21 years; she is with same surgery and has no problems. Another lady I know said she is well looked after but she lives in a different area to me. You would think that with the number of people now with diabetes or pre-diabetes, and borderline diabetes they would train more nurses and doctors. I have never known so many people either pre-diabetic, borderline or actually diabetic.

It proved to be productive Maz...my GP called me immediately after I delivered the letter...made time to see me...so all is well now...we have a good 'working' relationship...and he has made more effort as a result of the initial hiccups...wish I could say the same for the 'newish' DSN there...but since I no longer see her that is not a problem for me now.

 

[Bubbsie]

Yes exactly, Ruby! Someone on here once said that trying to control diabetes without being allowed to self test is like driving your car down the motorway without being allowed to look at the speedo at all, but still being expected to maintain an average speed of exactly 70mph if you don't want to be arrested for bad driving. Ummm...
And yet there are people who are regularly told that their HbA1c isn't good enough and they need to improve it, but no they aren't allowed to self test because of any of the reasons mentioned above

Anyone can self test Sally...the issue for many is whether they can afford to self fund it if they do not have strips & a meter on prescription

 

[Sally71]

They shouldn't have to self-fund though, should they. And they should never be told that testing is bad or not necessary, but many people are and just believe it because "the doctor knows best" and they don't know anything else about it. That's the annoying bit, that people aren't even given the right information in the first place, to enable them to make informed decisions about how to proceed.

I don't know what to do about it though, so I'll shut up about it now!

 

[Bubbsie]

They shouldn't have to self-fund though, should they. And they should never be told that testing is bad or not necessary, but many people are and just believe it because "the doctor knows best" and they don't know anything else about it. That's the annoying bit, that people aren't even given the right information in the first place, to enable them to make informed decisions about how to proceed.

I don't know what to do about it though, so I'll shut up about it now!

Sally I agree with you & many others here who hold the same views...I have my testing strips on prescription now & have for the last year...initially I did self fund then decided on a point of principle I should have them prescribed...I spoke to my GP who said the local CCG would oppose that...after a lengthy discussion we decided I would write to the CCG...challenge that position...so I did & was successful...there's nothing to stop other members doing that...this subject had been debated here several times...has provoked a passionate response...has been identified as a 'hot topic'...so my advice to any member who wishes to can challenge that decision...speak to your HCPs...or write to your local CCGs...it can be done.

 

[weecee]

Re freezing bread, I usually undo the bag tie and shake up the loaf a bit to loosen the slices, then loosely tie it back up or clip it and lay in freezer. Like others I just toast on frozen setting or thaw for a few minutes before use. No waste ever.