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Today I had my yearly diabetic check. This check is provided free at my doctors practice.
My son who is a registered nurse and the surgeon I see occasionally both say I'm not a diabetic type2 however 11 years ago when I was on heavy doses of prednisone for colitis my blood glucose levels rose and now that I'm registered as having had high readings I'm in the system.
I'm not complaining about that after all it's free however since I saw the diabetes practice nurse a year ago I have dropped 30 pounds off my still obese body. I am walking 15 miles a week and doing Tai Chi.

My BP at home (on medication) is 118/73 on average.
When the nurse took it (immediately after giving me a flu jab) it was 150/92...about normal at the doctors...darn white coat syndrome.
My cholesterol is now just above 100. Triglycerides are normal for the first time in a decade.
Glucose levels are normal..as we measure them differently from the US the figures wouldn't mean much for you folks.

Did I get praise for lossing weight? No. Did I get praise for walking? No. Did I get get praise over my bloods. No.

What I got after I told her about the McDougall lifestyle change was a lecture on protein and how protein gives us energy which is needed. Instead of oatmeal for breakfast she suggested poached eggs on toast.
Don't eat any carbohydrates after 2pm was another gem.
When I told her we make our own wholemeal bread
she lambasted that. Too much bread is bad. Just eat two slices a day (with your eggs).
Oil and cheese are both healthy in moderation. Milk is needed for bones..this is when she lectured my wife about not drinking milk.
She was ok about not eating meat during the week but suggested we have a couple of fastfood treats in the weekend to supply our iron needs.

At the end of the lecture I was told that the computer calculated my 5 year risk of CVD as >20%.

I am not happy. Happy with Dr McDougall but not happy with my GPs nurse.

What is wrong with people?

She's probably bought into the currently popular high fat low carb diet for diabetics. I know all about those types. They're out to win the blood glucose olympics! Here's how they do it:

breakfast: eggs & bacon with 2 strawberries (got to get those 5 a day)
lunch: grilled chicken with salad and ranch dressing
snack: cheese strings
dinner: steak with tomatoes, ice cream for dessert

result: average BG for the day between 80-90. Yay, what a success!

Myself and my active healthy McDougall family have endured a lot of home testing, and I can tell you that it's perfectly normal for healthy non-diabetics eating a whole foods diet to 'spike' in the 120's after eating a starch based meal, if you can actually call that a spike. A reading of 125 would be considered a failure to a card carrying Bernsteiner.

And of course the majority of them are overweight, their cholesterol levels are terrible, and their kidneys are giving out, but hey, they've got a great AC1! Sorry to sound so bitter, but as you can guess I am.

And I shouldn't forget to congratulate you on your amazing weight loss, and exemplary blood work. You're in the minority my friend, believe me.

Hooray for you for losing weight, walking and improving your blood all by changing your daily habits! So simple yet so few can sustain it. Well done!!

There I tried to make up for what was so sorely lacking in your nurse's response. I'm sorry she couldn't recognize and acknowledge the glaringly obvious success you're having with what you're doing.

Glenn, it is sometimes lonely being a leader but I am glad you are leading by your example! Way to go!!!

Thank you folk for your support. Yes I think the nurse is an Atkins type carb hating supporter.
Of course New Zealand where I live depends on meat and dairy exports and us 'weirdos' who don't partake in either are considered a bit strange.
I suppose the same would be true in some of your midwestern states.

The worrying thing is the >20% risk for CVD over the next 5 years. Ok I know it is a calculation by some damnable machine and it's added in my father having heart disease at 65, me being a male, over 60, hypertension, obesity, "diabetes", having had a TIA 2 years ago, and God knows what else but it is a worry.

Ok, 50 pounds to lose and then the other problems might go away. I'm not giving up this lifestyle no way!

Granted your BP was a bit high, but with your cholesterol as low as it is, your CVD should be much much lower than 20%. I would demand to see the actual computer print out and ask further questions about the calculation. It would not surprise me if the nurse was lying about that number to try and prove her point about diet.

Glenn50, I received a similar lecture from my physician earlier this year. Nearly everything he said was negative as it related to the dramatic changes I had made to my health. I had dropped 30+ pounds and 64 points in my TC. The physician was a bit disappointed when I told him it wasn't medicine that aided this turn around.

I proceeded to explain how I "cured" myself. He told me my "diet" was "radical" and removing foods was not the way to good health. The real kicker was when he asked, "Where do you get your protein?" I think I sat there in awe for a moment before answering. I found that question a bit hard to swallow. Finally he suggested I include 30% fat in my diet.

I took none of his comments when I left the office, but much like you I was very frustrated. I am not sure he is the right doctor (if there is such a thing) for me. I am still considering changing doctors, but I would like to stick it out and PROVE not only to myself but to him this way of health is the right way.

My daughter and I were shopping yesterday, and we stopped in this place called Teavana. I asked if they had any unsweetened tea, and the saleslady said, "Here is our special weight loss tea. It actually prevents you from absorbing carbs." And I said, "But I want to absorb carbs!" She looked at me like I was crazy.

I'm finding it helpful to repeat this mantra, "He/she isn't yet ready to know what you know." Because, truth is, a few months ago, I was just like her - afraid of carbs - and I probably would've bought that tea.

But a doctor or nurse is different. You've made such progress and improvement in your health, so it's a concern that they can't see that. I would probably be looking around for a different doctor.

Yup, it's the same the world over - I have low blood pressure without medication (112/70,) TC 108, and fasting sugars of 80 or something like that; I don't smoke either, but they calculated my CV risk as HIGH at the docs because....wait for it.....



I don't eat fatty fish 2 -3x a week.


To quote Walter Sobchek " Has the whole world gone CRAZY?!?!?!"

I have found myself hitting my head against the wall trying to understand why people say these things. In the end it's just less stressful to accept them and use a standardized response - the best one I use is that 'I'm following Dr. McDougall's program which has been reversing people's diseases for 20 years'.

I am sorry for your experience! It's be completely rattling to do all this and have good results. Yet, people just ignore that and tell you to go back to probably worse eating habits then you had before. The worst part is these are medical personnel.

I have a great Doctor that supports this WOE, I actually think she is vegan too. I know she thinks Esselstyn has done amazing things - as she saw him lecture and told me. That said, when I see other medical specialists, I am going to take a print screen of my Chronometer for a typical meal. This is the USDA website that Jeff Novick talks so much about - you plug in your food for the day and it shows you what percent of your nutition you have obtained. I am always pretty close to 100%.

I think I'll plug in nordgirl's sample menu and see what I get then. Maybe I'll take two print screens to the specialists. Oh my, I am so naughty

There are four control dramas: intimidation, interrogation, aloofness and poor me. Know each time you finding yourself matching one of them, you make a paradigm shift. You are the healer and they are the patient. You have the solution, you wouldn't do anything different other then tweak your food.

I am sure the injection changed your blood pressure. It is never suggested to change your diet and monitor your own blood pressure. Dr. McDougall shares do not make a personal relationship with a doctor or expect them to save you. We have elevated them to the position of being Godlike. I love when he shares "That fat in your food has a very important purpose that is the metabolic dollar that the body saves for when the day when no food is available. But folks that day never comes and because fat is in the same chemical structure as the fat that you put in your body tissues it is done effortlessly." We are removing the fat out of our relationships in knowing our body is our best ally. We are trusting our food because our body doesn't lie. We live in the best lab there is. It is self-correcting itself a million times a day. We live just one day at a time.

Aloha, patty

Greetings,


I feel your pain. I've been on this journey for a little over seven weeks now, with many positive benefits. These include 22lbs lost, no more chest pain, reduced blood pressure, and disappearing asthma. Did I mention my incredible energy level?

I have heard some of the strangest comments...

My accupuncturest told me, "You need some oil." (I'll be sure to add some if my oil light comes on )

My mom told me that all the pesticides on vegetables are dangerous. She also told me about someone who had lost a lot of weight, and looks sickly now. "Do I look sick?" I asked. "Not yet," she answered.

My sister maintains that she can't try the McDougall Diet because she has Type 2 Diabetes...but the big, juicy steaks at Longhorn are still on the menu.

I'm trying to take the John Robbins approach, although my inclination is to grab them by the lapels for a "McDougall Moment."

I'm seeing my primary care physician tomorrow for the first time since becoming a McDougaller. It is time for my yearly physical with cholesterol checks etc. etc. Perhaps I should have kept her "in the loop," but I didn't want to hear any more discouraging words. I'm not sure how she will react, although she may be rightfully offended that I cut my blood pressure meds without consulting her. (I did so very gradually, and checking my BP multiple times daily). I'm still on about 1/4 of my prescription...

I'm prepared for a lecture about my failure to consult with her, and I deserve it. However, I will rebuff any concerns she has about my diet with facts. I may even zap her with my salad shooter.
Actually, she is a very nice lady...so I am cautiously optimisic that she will be encouraging.

Hopefully my cholesterol will be improved...I've been "borderline" for a few years. Regardless, it's hard to argue with 22lbs weight loss and no more chest pain. And I love the food. Last night, I had a good-sized supper, and felt full of energy afterward! What a concept--food for energy.

So I will take the silly, misinformed comments in stride. This diet has given me a new life.



Tom

I have lots of medical people in my family including doctors and nurses. It is never a nurse's job to lecture you about anything or even make any dietary recommendations. That is your doctor's job. In fact in my opinion, it is not anyone's job to lecture you. They can dispense information however and you can take it or leave it. If I were you and got info like that I would definitely leave it (to put it nicely).

Yeah, I pay exactly ZERO attention to doctors' dietary advice, LOL. I do what I do and the results speak for themselves.

My doctor was about my weight loss, numbers improvement, etc., but she was clearly putting her fingers in her ears and humming loudly when I explained about plant-based, no added fat, etc. Of course, she's overweight herself, so . . . !

I go but rarely, and now that I have my "after" numbers, 'twill be even MORE rarely, LOL. Don't need doctors for much of anything, really, and until I DO, I plan to stay away.