"Trust A Dietitian" good luck!

Within weeks of my type two diabetes diagnosis I started a ketogenic diet. Within five days my blood glucose numbers went from dangerously high to non diabetic. My second hospital HbA1c blood test three months later confirmed HbA1c from almost twelve to fives. I was a typical ‘bog standard’ type two diabetic. Middle aged, heavily overweight and living a sedentary lifestyle. Two weeks after my diagnosis I buried my Father, he died riddled with diabetic complications. Being one of the old school, he followed his Doctor's instructions to the letter. He used the standard diet recommended by dietitians for diabetics, lots of carbohydrates and reduced fat. His blood glucose numbers were never good, despite using injected insulin and ten oral medications. He never had a chance, following the recommended diet, he was not alone. In the UK approximately 93% of type one diabetics and around 70% of type two diabetics, never get to safe blood glucose numbers. NHS audited statistics confirm this as fact.

It is also a fact, carbohydrates turn to sugars once digested. It is also a fact, diabetics are the most allergic to sugar people on the planet. It is also a fact, sugar has no beneficial nutrients whatsoever, they add calories, nothing more. At this stage, you maybe wondering why dietitians recommend a diet to diabetics, that almost guarantees failure, and for many diabetics, blindness, amputations and kidney failure. The answer is money. The unpalatable truth, outfits like The British Dietetic Association, and their counterparts all over the world are being sponsored by companies that produce high carb and very often, high sugar foods. The BDA accepts or has accepted sponsorship and funding from Danone, Abbott Nutrition, Nestle, Cereal Partners, BelVita Breakfast Biscuits and Coca Cola. Some of the highest profile BDA dietitians have also received money, from numerous companies promoting high sugar mass produced factory foods.

You may be thinking, how did this completely immoral and horrendous situation come about. We have almost come to expect, a never ending stream of lies from politicians, but dietitians consider themselves health professionals, yet they place money above the health of countless people. Ask yourself this, have you ever seen a communication or plea from a science Professor, Surgeon or GP asking to be trusted? I very much doubt it, yet the BDA’s motto for years has been “Trust A Dietitian” the reason is manifestly obvious, so many do not trust a dietitian, and who can blame them. I suspect many more do not "Trust A Dietitian" after what has been called "The nutritional trial of the century"

I believe it is fair to say, the highest profile dietitian in South Africa is Claire Julsing Strydom. When president of the Association for Dietetics in SA, she lodged an official complaint with the Health Care Professionals Council  Of South Africa, against A1 rated (the highest rating a professor can achieve) Professor Tim Noakes, for professional misconduct. Tim had recommended on twitter, a diet for weaning an infant should be low carb and higher in fat. For that one tweet, Tim was put through the mangle in a trial reminiscent of a Stalinist show trial (full story from journalist Marika Sboros here) which dragged on for two years. The bottom line, Tim was completely exonerated. Although Tim faced the brunt of the onslaught, this show trial was not about his tweet, it was mainly about big junk food, versus whole fresh foods and common sense.

The fact is there is very little money to be made in promoting fresh vegetables, meat, fish and healthy fats such as butter. There is a whole lot of money in promoting sugar covered cereals (just ask Claire) all the money is in the promotion of high sugar products, just “Ask A Dietitian” Tim came out of this debacle with reputation maintained and enhanced, low carb higher healthy fats won this time. What about Claire you may be asking, It’s my opinion, she will have to work much harder for people to “Trust A Dietitian” she must know this. Why else would she and the ADSA have recently employed a public relations and spin outfit on a damage limitation exercise and speak on her behalf. Clearly, getting a straight answer from the average dietitian, just got much harder. Getting a straight answer from a high profile BDA dietitian is impossible, "trust me" I know this is true, just ask BDA spokesperson Sian Porter RD.

One last point, the Health Care Professionals Council  Of South Africa, has a very dubious track record, as can be read here. Tomorrow I will talking about the ever growing number of dietitians and other medical professionals, who are leading the fight against the epidemics of obesity and type two diabetes. People who put the health and well-being of their patients above financial reward.  

Eddie

Results for England. The National Diabetes Audit 2010-2011

Percentage of registered Type 1 patients in England

HbA1c > 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) = 92.6%
HbA1c > 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) = 71.3%
HbA1c > 10.0% (86 mmol/mol) = 18.1%

Percentage of registered Type 2 patients in England

HbA1c > 6.5% (48 mmol/mol = 72.5%
HbA1c > 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) = 32.6%
HbA1c >10.0% (86 mmol/mol) = 6.8%

These results are very similar to those obtained in previous NHS audits over the past 5 - 6 years.