Diabetic Diets

The British Dietetic Association a complete unprofessional shambles ?

From the British Dietetic Association website re a recent meeting of members.

"Carbohydrate Advice in Type 2 Diabetes – The ‘Hot Potato’ of ! ! Dietetics?"

"The latest UK nutrition guidelines for diabetes suggest an individualised approach to carbohydrate in Type 2 diabetes, and focus on calorie reduction and weight management in those who need to lose weight. But where does that leave more detailed or speciﬁc advice about carbohydrate for individual patients? What should Dietitians be advising their patients? Preliminary research into the current practice of UK Dietitians in this topical ﬁeld will be reported, together with the current evidence-base. Participants in this session will have the opportunity to review their own practice in this area and contribute to the ongoing debate."

As you may have noticed dietitians have featured heavily in my posts so far this year. Diabetes care in the UK is abysmal for the majority of diabetics. The NHS audited annual statistics are grim, and they are grim year after year, no progress is being made, in fact the situation is getting worse. One of the keystones of good diabetes control is diet. And the experts on diet in the UK are the dietitians who are members of the British Dietetic Association. Recently they held a meeting and produced a survey conducted on some of their members opinions, some of the results you see below. As you can see their methods seem to be very unsound, in fact I don't see any method at all. Clearly UK dietitians have no general guidelines or policy agreement to work to whatsoever. To the question How frequently do you advise carbohydrate restriction with type two diabetes on oral medication, sometimes was the answer for the most. The question what would be a realistic carbohydrate restriction in type two diabetes 30 to 50% of energy was the overwhelming reply.

The $64000 question is, how could any successful organisation operate with absolutely no overhaul common policy ? no corporate structure or method of operation whatsoever. Remember we are not talking about flogging nuts and bolts here, we are talking about the health of millions of people. Is it any wonder the UK diabetes statistics are so grim, when the very organisation that should be leading the way to better health for so many, could not run a whelk stall. Until the BDA at the very least, issue some basic guidelines to their members and have some sort of common policy, regarding carbohydrate control or restriction, the carnage will go on. It is my opinion, the BDA is at the very least partly responsible for the early death of countless diabetics. Will it be ever thus ?

Click on graphs to enlarge

Source of information and more here

Eddie

Who can be contacted on this blog and at this email address lowcarbdiabetic@aol.com

“The Miracle is this - the more we share, the more we have.”

Apparently so said Leonard Nimoy (better known as Spock). I found this on Julie’s great blog ‘Happiness is a dish best savoured hot‘, which you can link to from our side bar.

The inter-net can be a great place and for those of us who regularly use it, it’s a great boon. However, it comes with a price. It may take up a lot of what would have been your free time. Many a time friends have said to me I thought I’d just check my emails, or I’ll just have a look at the blog and something that should have taken minutes results in you still being on the inter-net/web an hour or so later and in some cases all morning - but surely not all day!

This of course is fine if you have nothing better to do but for most of us isn’t there something we ought to be doing instead? How about a walk, how about sorting the garage out, how about getting that bag of things you no longer use down the charity shop. Recycle and re-use, it helps so many people out.

Do you remember the great ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica’. I used to love reading through them and finding out new things. Now of course it’s a click of the mouse or the touch on your phone.

Do you remember writing to pen pals or a favourite Aunt. I used to do this to, but now of course it’s emails or text. Twitter, face book, the modern media - is this progress? Well yes I suppose it is but I loved receiving letters through the post and the art of letter writing unfortunately is becoming a thing of the past.

One great thing I like about the inter-net is my new found friends on blogs and forums. Of course you may find some you dislike, you do not agree with them, their thoughts are way outside your comfort zone. Well two choices, either join in or not. The on/off switch is in our hands or should I say fingers.

I believe it’s true the more we share, the more we have. Knowledge and friendship forms bonds, a bit like shaking hands across the world, and couldn‘t the world and it‘s people do with a little bit more understanding.

With 2013 now behind us, is it time for us to bring about new beginnings? We all have to decide, will we continue as last year or will we do something different that could make a change for the better. I certainly hope to continue blogging. By doing this I can enjoy sharing and learning things about health and lifestyle that interest me. I will also continue to love, support and enjoy my family and friends. We are stronger together.

Many of you reading this may have made your New Year Resolutions, they can work out if you do the groundwork and keep at it. With this in mind you may enjoy this short piece which I found on Julie's blog - I found it interesting hope you do to.

Have a good 2014 and make each day count.

All the best Jan

Hitler is in denial about the benefits of low carb high fat !

Eddie