"Diabetic Dietician Service"

A diabetic for over twenty years, I have been given dietary advice that was patronising and didnt really help and so wasn’t effective. The advice hadn’t really changed in those 20 years and whilst there is a minefield of dietary advice out there, some very much motivated by marketing of various supplements, services and producers. NHS dietary advice didnt seem to have moved on or addressed any of these. I have tried many diets and found that some things worked better for me. And so when I was offered another appointment with a dietician, I was not optimistic about the outcome. I expected the usual lecture about what I had to eat and not much encouragement or motivation going forward. I almost didnt attend but 

I went reluctantly with low expectations. 

The initial chat with Ruth the Dietician at Ayr Hospital was a breath of fresh air. She acknowledged that the usual advice wasn’t working for me and  accepted that in my experience, I am sensitive to carbohydrate. She also said that she would guide and support me to find a way to achieve the weight loss I so desired and manage my blood sugar levels better. I was surprised by that commitment and flexibility and motivated to get back into a lifestyle diet that works for me. I have lost 6kg in the first 4 weeks and my blood sugars are much better. My feeling of wellbeing is much improved and what’s more I feel that I am being listened to and helped towards my health goals rather than feeling that they are opposed and unachievable. The focus is no longer completely on the diet whether I’m sticking to it or  failing miserably. I have become much more aware of what is realistic, what strategies I can use to avoid failure and the specific effects of the food I am consuming.  This experience has educated me and I feel cared for in a way that I haven’t done before.