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Monday 2 September 2013

Dietitians and other weapons of mass destruction !

My extremely jaundiced view of most dietitians probably stems from my first encounter with the species. Not only was the woman a registered dietitian she was also a Director of the BDA. In my opinion she was a health hazard, especially to diabetics. Out of the saturated fat will kill you, and carbs with everything, or it’s scurvy for you lad camp, we did not hit it off. She provided much mirth, but next to nil useful information. So that was my introduction to dietitians. Over the years I have lost count of the dietitians I have encountered, many giving expert advice on third rate diet and health programs on TV. Usually they have the brains of a rocking horse and carrying more blubber than Moby Dick and they are spouting complete jibber.

Now, I don’t expect every dietitian to have the physique and powers of Usain Bolt, but Jeez give me a break, they could make some effort. So many are walking examples of an extremely poor diet, or lifestyle, or both. Check out this horror story at diabetes.co.uk posted today. The terrible thing is I have read countless reports like this post on forums. A taster from the post.


“Okay so I saw the dietician for the first time this morning since being diagnosed. What a complete and utter waste of my time!! And the woman clearly had issues!

I'm also working out 4-5 times a week. As I say I've lost 3 stone since June and so far, touch wood, since I've been using a monitor, my levels haven't been outside the "normal" range even once

She kept pointing to her little picture of the "plate" with the carbs and chocolate etc.

"I've lost 3 stone in under 3 months, I have a delicious, nutritious diet that I ENJOY, I've got more energy than ever before, I can work out more than ever before, my skin is better than ever, I feel fantastic, and my blood glucose levels are normal - what EXACTLY is controversial?". She wasn't impressed!

When I told her my goal weight (well she asked!) she looked at me like she wanted to stab me, and I got the distinct impression that she struggles with diet/weight herself”

So there you have it folks, another dietitian that thinks a lowcarb lifestyle is the work of Beelzebub and a one way trip to the knackers yard. Thank god for  Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE

Eddie


Link to the usual suspect here.



11 comments:

Galina L. said...

My family physician admits my LC diet works for me (he know very well that I don't come for antibiotics ones a year any longer as I used to, and don't request asthma and migraine medications any longer, + lost 30 lb and didn't regain, which he told me contradicted the data of medical research). So, I requested that my diet was officially made part of my medical records. OK, you found how to keep yourself at a better health, but try to imagine you would be in a hospital for some reason. It is better to have a ground to request what works for you.

Lowcarb team member said...

I have met one lovely one dietitian and that was entirely accidental. I had been "parked" in her office by a Dr who thought the room was unoccupied and then he was called away. We started to chat and it was truly a revelation to me. Although it seems glaringly obvious now she was the first person to point out to me that the failing pancreas was extremely erratic in T2s and this is what can make control with medication etc so difficult. She commented that I was slim and asked about my diet. She said it sounded fine which meant that I could find that the magic word for me was "carbs". I said I didn't eat many but she said that some were very carb sensitive.
Both these pieces of information proved invaluable in sorting out my high bgs. She gave me her tel. no and I read later that she was holding meetings for diabetics around the county. I hope she was allowed to spread her message. I recently tried to contact her but she has moved on. Pity there aren't more like her and Franziska.

Kath

Gwen said...

It's just frightening how antiquated most doctors and 'nutritionists' are. Whether it's from being staid/lazy, or burying their head in the sand, or worst yet, INTENTIONALLY to keep lining their pockets, I don't know and it really doesn't matter. People are dying because of it, at an alarmingly increasing rate.

Anonymous said...

You have to ask who teaches the Dietitians?

If you study any subject then there is a tutor/lecturer using their education and skills and that is what gets a pass rate. They are at fault not the poor Dietitian just out of University.

Who teaches the teachers?

Lowcarb team member said...

This is one of the inane quotes on the DCUK forum from the Dietitian Eddie referred to, on a dietetics forum she also stated that potatoes should be a staple in a T2 diet.

“What do you miss from carbs - fibre ( that seems to be why constipation is a problem) folic acid and vit C ( pots) or and seratonin which increase from carb consumption and makes you happy - that might account for the loss of a sense of humour in alot of low carbers or is it the hangover from all the alcohol they seem to consume !”

So there you have it get those spuds down you or suffer the consequences!

Wonder if the potato council is a sponsor of the BDA.

Graham

Lowcarb team member said...

Glass of wine /pint? Or a potato anyone?
Sense of humour failure? Not us.
How can she write that stuff and not laugh?

On the other hand it is possible to distil alcohol from potatoes...
She must be on the hard stuff...
Or perhaps she just likes crisps-there's a nice healthy food.

Kath

Anonymous said...

'You have to ask who teaches the Dietitians?' It must be by fellow experienced dietitians who know they have to 'toe the party line' or risk being out of a job. A few do take the risk of advising patients to cut down on carbohydrates but they are still too few in number.Whilst the main voice continues to tell patients it is ok to eat potatoes, rice, pasta the population gets sicker and sicker.

Lisa said...

When my child was diagnosed with type 1, we were visited by a" specialist diabetic dietician". She said, "there is no such thing as a diabetic diet nowadays so you can eat whatever you want. If you want to eat Mc Donalds then go right ahead" I could hardly believe it.
A few fun facts about high carbers: vitamin c is almost identical structure to a glucose molecule so they compete to enter cells. The glucose will always be granted entry first, so the vitamin c is not absorbed but excreted in urine. That's why your immune system is stronger on a low carb diet. As for minerals, the Phytates in grains and legumes bind with minerals so the body can not absorb them. All the minerals in breakfast cereal which are the selling point to consumers, are useless.
Low carbers do not get constipation as we eat fibrous vegetables.

Lowcarb team member said...

The original post made me laugh and the scenario is familiar to most of us I should think.Many HCP's would prefer diabetics to have their brain surgically removed on diagnosis to make life easier for them.

In the case of Practice Nurses I can sympathise a little as they would never have expected to be left in complete control of management of diabetes management as they have been.

In the case of the dietitians its more surprising as they must surely have been trained to adapt to individuals and different conditions.

Or maybe I am expecting too much?


Kath

Health diabetes said...

In latest research people are fight against diabetes because they not get proper diet and food and make a good health.

Lowcarb team member said...

Anonymous Health diabetes said... "In latest research people are fight against diabetes because they not get proper diet and food and make a good health" You'd better believe it ! A diet consisting of mainly starchy carbs and low fat is peddled to most which leads to high BG numbers, high medication, weight gain and diabetic complications. Low carb high fat diets are taboo with the mainstream authorities BUT a path to great control and good health for so many who follow them.

Paul