Re: food plans from nutritionists

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/27/2006 9:55:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

sheilaksmith@... writes:

I just feel it's a money making scheme. My doctor could have just

given me the packet of information I received at the Diabetes Center

and sent me home. I plan to tell her exactly so when I see her next

week.

Hi Sheila,

I think you should tell your doctor. Since doctors only have so much time

to spend with each patient, I would suggest that you write down your

concerns/suggestions/comments and give them to her or mail them to her prior to

your

next appointment. Ask her to read them and send you a reply. No one knows

every thing, we all learn something new every day, and this includes doctors,

nutritionists, educators, etc.

hugs

Eunice

[Guest guest]

>>

> Hi Sheila,

> The educators have to have a guideline. They do not have anyway

of knowing

> how a person is going to handle food changes. One person will

look at that

> guideline and say, " that is too much food for me " . The next

person is going

> to look at it and say, " that is not enough food for me, I can't

survive on

> that small amount " . There is no way an educator could make a food

plan for each

> individual because they have no way of knowing how much or how

less someone

> will need to eat to stay in control.

>

> hugs

> Eunice

I understand what you're saying, Eunice. However, I guess I'm just

disillusioned right now. My doctor made such a big deal of going to

these classes, how important they were. They were going to work out

a meal plan, for me.

When I found out my insurance wouldn't pay for the classes, it was

fine with me. Fortunately, I'm very blessed to be able to afford to

pay for them on my own (at $150 each class).

I'm learning more about this dis-ease by reading on my own and

interacting with people who have lived with it for years.

I just feel it's a money making scheme. My doctor could have just

given me the packet of information I received at the Diabetes Center

and sent me home. I plan to tell her exactly so when I see her next

week.

Then again, I'm all new to this so what do I know, right?

Thanks,

Sheila

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

Your doctor may not know what you understand (or can comprehend from

reading) about diabetes. Also, a good argument (at least for type II) is

that you may not understand at all if you are overweight. Many people don't

get 'electronics' as well... I just attended a class and of the 12 people in

the class, 3 didn't know how to use their glucometer and 1 didn't remember

where he put his. Of the three who didn't know how to use their glucometer,

one would stick herself multiple times, never draw enough blood and waste 3

strips before giving up.

From the class two didn't ever eat breakfast. One didn't eat but once a

day, and then he stuffed himself (with mostly carbs to top it off).

Four people didn't realize that there were more carbs out there than pasta

and bread (i.e., they didn't realize that corn, beans and potatoes were high

in carbs and thought of them as veggies and felt good that their 5 servings

of veggies each day were baked potatoes, french fries and hashbrowns.

By attending the class, the doctor has a reasonable expectation to believe

that you understand a basic level of information necessary for him to

continue an effective treatment plan, and to have a level of confidence in

believing that you understand the instructions being given to you.

Given the high costs of healthcare, and the willingness of people to sue,

it's not surprising that a doctor would insist on every diabetic patient to

have this basic level of training (or at least be able to document in the

record of each visit that the training had not happened and the patient was

again advised to take it).

Mike

>

>

> I'm learning more about this dis-ease by reading on my own and

> interacting with people who have lived with it for years.

>

> I just feel it's a money making scheme. My doctor could have just

> given me the packet of information I received at the Diabetes Center

> and sent me home. I plan to tell her exactly so when I see her next

> week.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

Your doctor may not know what you understand (or can comprehend from

reading) about diabetes. Also, a good argument (at least for type II) is

that you may not understand at all if you are overweight. Many people don't

get 'electronics' as well... I just attended a class and of the 12 people in

the class, 3 didn't know how to use their glucometer and 1 didn't remember

where he put his. Of the three who didn't know how to use their glucometer,

one would stick herself multiple times, never draw enough blood and waste 3

strips before giving up.

From the class two didn't ever eat breakfast. One didn't eat but once a

day, and then he stuffed himself (with mostly carbs to top it off).

Four people didn't realize that there were more carbs out there than pasta

and bread (i.e., they didn't realize that corn, beans and potatoes were high

in carbs and thought of them as veggies and felt good that their 5 servings

of veggies each day were baked potatoes, french fries and hashbrowns.

By attending the class, the doctor has a reasonable expectation to believe

that you understand a basic level of information necessary for him to

continue an effective treatment plan, and to have a level of confidence in

believing that you understand the instructions being given to you.

Given the high costs of healthcare, and the willingness of people to sue,

it's not surprising that a doctor would insist on every diabetic patient to

have this basic level of training (or at least be able to document in the

record of each visit that the training had not happened and the patient was

again advised to take it).

Mike

>

>

> I'm learning more about this dis-ease by reading on my own and

> interacting with people who have lived with it for years.

>

> I just feel it's a money making scheme. My doctor could have just

> given me the packet of information I received at the Diabetes Center

> and sent me home. I plan to tell her exactly so when I see her next

> week.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

Your doctor may not know what you understand (or can comprehend from

reading) about diabetes. Also, a good argument (at least for type II) is

that you may not understand at all if you are overweight. Many people don't

get 'electronics' as well... I just attended a class and of the 12 people in

the class, 3 didn't know how to use their glucometer and 1 didn't remember

where he put his. Of the three who didn't know how to use their glucometer,

one would stick herself multiple times, never draw enough blood and waste 3

strips before giving up.

From the class two didn't ever eat breakfast. One didn't eat but once a

day, and then he stuffed himself (with mostly carbs to top it off).

Four people didn't realize that there were more carbs out there than pasta

and bread (i.e., they didn't realize that corn, beans and potatoes were high

in carbs and thought of them as veggies and felt good that their 5 servings

of veggies each day were baked potatoes, french fries and hashbrowns.

By attending the class, the doctor has a reasonable expectation to believe

that you understand a basic level of information necessary for him to

continue an effective treatment plan, and to have a level of confidence in

believing that you understand the instructions being given to you.

Given the high costs of healthcare, and the willingness of people to sue,

it's not surprising that a doctor would insist on every diabetic patient to

have this basic level of training (or at least be able to document in the

record of each visit that the training had not happened and the patient was

again advised to take it).

Mike

>

>

> I'm learning more about this dis-ease by reading on my own and

> interacting with people who have lived with it for years.

>

> I just feel it's a money making scheme. My doctor could have just

> given me the packet of information I received at the Diabetes Center

> and sent me home. I plan to tell her exactly so when I see her next

> week.

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I was told that I was diabetic and to loose weight and follow a

low carb diet... look things up and test!!!! I thank my Dr for that

as I feel that these classes would really be a waste of money. I

think I eat almost like Eunice as I eat most anything just watch the

portion and test. I believe we could all survive on less food than

we think we can. Just eat small portions and test and you will see

what is for you and what is not. I was only on meds for about 4

months and that has been about 4 years now. BG's are normal.

Hugs, Tres

> I understand what you're saying, Eunice. However, I guess I'm

just

> disillusioned right now. My doctor made such a big deal of going

to

> these classes, how important they were. They were going to work

out

> a meal plan, for me.

>

> When I found out my insurance wouldn't pay for the classes, it was

> fine with me. Fortunately, I'm very blessed to be able to afford

to

> pay for them on my own (at $150 each class).

>

> I'm learning more about this dis-ease by reading on my own and

> interacting with people who have lived with it for years.

>

> I just feel it's a money making scheme. My doctor could have just

> given me the packet of information I received at the Diabetes

Center

> and sent me home. I plan to tell her exactly so when I see her

next

> week.

>

> Then again, I'm all new to this so what do I know, right?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Sheila

>

>

>

>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >>

[Guest guest]

My doctor sent me to a nutritionist a long time ago. She was a nice young

lady, probably about 20 or 21 years old (actually she looked & acted like

19).

Anyway, she essentially pulled out the old pyramid on a xeroxed sheet, told

me what it was, and then gave me some pages of daily menus (along with a

copy of the pyramid).

I already knew everything she told me, and I might have been able to give a

better presentation myself.

I hope more have a better experience than I had.

Best Wishes---

Donna

[Guest guest]

My doctor sent me to a nutritionist a long time ago. She was a nice young

lady, probably about 20 or 21 years old (actually she looked & acted like

19).

Anyway, she essentially pulled out the old pyramid on a xeroxed sheet, told

me what it was, and then gave me some pages of daily menus (along with a

copy of the pyramid).

I already knew everything she told me, and I might have been able to give a

better presentation myself.

I hope more have a better experience than I had.

Best Wishes---

Donna

[Guest guest]

I had to see a nutritionist when I had gestational diabetes with my last

pregnancy. Honestly, I thought it was an *extremely* helpful class for

me. The nutritionist discussed serving sizes and showed us what they

were. She showed us how to use our meters. She explained how to

balance our eating and how we would have to test and adjust our eating

to see what really worked with our bodies. I did everything by the book,

kept my levels perfect (maybe two high readings a week), and delivered a

perfect, small baby :-)

When my husband was diagnosed with diabetes four months later, I was able

to help him monitor and control his diet because of the training I had.

The nutritionist in his endo's office came in and didn't help much at

all. I was very glad I had attended a more detailed class during my

pregnancy!

I ran into a lady from my nutrition class toward the end of my pregnancy.

She was not eating at all how we had been taught.....and she couldn't

understand why her levels were so high. If you have consistently high

levels while pregnant, you have to go on insulin. If you go on insulin,

your baby is put in the NICU for observation for the first 24 hours.

There was no way I was going to risk that.

I guess maybe every nutritionist and class is different. My experience

was very positive.

Gwen in FL

SAHM to 7yo Claire, 4yo , 2yo Audrey, and due June 24

[Guest guest]

I had to see a nutritionist when I had gestational diabetes with my last

pregnancy. Honestly, I thought it was an *extremely* helpful class for

me. The nutritionist discussed serving sizes and showed us what they

were. She showed us how to use our meters. She explained how to

balance our eating and how we would have to test and adjust our eating

to see what really worked with our bodies. I did everything by the book,

kept my levels perfect (maybe two high readings a week), and delivered a

perfect, small baby :-)

When my husband was diagnosed with diabetes four months later, I was able

to help him monitor and control his diet because of the training I had.

The nutritionist in his endo's office came in and didn't help much at

all. I was very glad I had attended a more detailed class during my

pregnancy!

I ran into a lady from my nutrition class toward the end of my pregnancy.

She was not eating at all how we had been taught.....and she couldn't

understand why her levels were so high. If you have consistently high

levels while pregnant, you have to go on insulin. If you go on insulin,

your baby is put in the NICU for observation for the first 24 hours.

There was no way I was going to risk that.

I guess maybe every nutritionist and class is different. My experience

was very positive.

Gwen in FL

SAHM to 7yo Claire, 4yo , 2yo Audrey, and due June 24

[Guest guest]

I had to see a nutritionist when I had gestational diabetes with my last

pregnancy. Honestly, I thought it was an *extremely* helpful class for

me. The nutritionist discussed serving sizes and showed us what they

were. She showed us how to use our meters. She explained how to

balance our eating and how we would have to test and adjust our eating

to see what really worked with our bodies. I did everything by the book,

kept my levels perfect (maybe two high readings a week), and delivered a

perfect, small baby :-)

When my husband was diagnosed with diabetes four months later, I was able

to help him monitor and control his diet because of the training I had.

The nutritionist in his endo's office came in and didn't help much at

all. I was very glad I had attended a more detailed class during my

pregnancy!

I ran into a lady from my nutrition class toward the end of my pregnancy.

She was not eating at all how we had been taught.....and she couldn't

understand why her levels were so high. If you have consistently high

levels while pregnant, you have to go on insulin. If you go on insulin,

your baby is put in the NICU for observation for the first 24 hours.

There was no way I was going to risk that.

I guess maybe every nutritionist and class is different. My experience

was very positive.

Gwen in FL

SAHM to 7yo Claire, 4yo , 2yo Audrey, and due June 24