Bonkers GP appointment

Old fashioned idea was grapefruit to start breakfast BUT these are a no-no with statins, but perhaps kiwi or fresh orange. Fruit is OK for diabetes but not juice because this increases the absorption of sugar. Bananas are Ok, but only if they are still to the green end of ripe.
Has your GP mentioned porridge or overnight oats with red fruits?
Has he/she suggested the online NHS course for pre-diabetics? Great info there.

Yes your sugar increased is moderated if you each low GI foods beforehand and we should all walk for 10/15 mins after eating.

Good luck

Quite honestly, I'd take anything Inchauspie claims with a pinch of salt (actually, I wouldn't because I avoid salt). She earns her money from "influencing" and her claims aren't always based on science.
😁

One problem that people I know are having lately is low sodium levels. Would this be due to the fact we are told to avoid salt because it increases blood pressure?

Mirren

Why was this bonkers ?
Us GPs can't win !
You received sensible advice to keep you well and, hopefully, stop you needing medication or becoming diabetic.
What's the poor GP to do ?
Dole out pills ...we get criticism.
Don't dole out pills...same !
No magic wands , you know.
We aren't Harry Potter!!!

It's fab advice! Cherish that GP!
Eating salad etc at the start of a neal results in the carbs in the meal being digested more slowly and so avoiding a sugar spike.
Traditionally meals started with a salad. Restaurants fill you up with bread as it is cheap and filling - but bad for blood sugar.
Keeping you BS low will, with luck result in better metabolic health and that you dont need statins. Win win!
Pharma companies are constantly pushing statins and lowering the threash-hold where they are 'indicated'.
Your GP is doing well to ID the potential cause of the problem and nudge you away from it while you still have time.

I'll go and wash the salad leaves ready for tomorrow's breakfast. 🤔

I was having nightmares when taking Statins. A friend has muscle wastage… Dr suggested coming off them for a couple of months, haven’t started them again. But I have heard drinking beetroot juice is good for lowering cholesterol… I have a carton in the fridge still yet to try it…

Is your GP young?

A purely green salad will not make you feel full. Protein does. What about adding some salted nuts to your salad, eg almonds or cashews?

I use them. A freestyle libre costs around £50 per fortnight. I have an account with freestyle libre as I've self funded for many years, not sure if they sell them direct now.

Funnily enough it does make me feel full, but it doesn't have to be a huge salad. I can wait quite a while before eating my protein...

Anything raw goes.......I also love to use a mandolin (for slicing thinly) and a grater and then I slather it with olive oil and balsamic mostly. I've recently become addicted (!) to kale. I never thought I would say that, but it's got a fabulous punch of iron and fibre. Mix the colours. Colourful is the way to go.

Don't forget to add the toasted hazelnuts.....mmmmmm

It’s a scientific study showing eating greens before a meal lowers blood glucose as does walking after a meal.

I once stayed in a hotel where they served a green salad before every meal, (not breakfast). It was in Morocco so I expect it was French influence.
But what if you're like me and honestly don't like greens, even lettuce?
I've tried and tried but its really quite a chore, they taste bitter and are difficult to swallow? (my husband loves them, even sprouts - raw or cooked)
I'd rather have a pill.

The results are in for taking statins and they increase your life expectancy for four days only. That’s 4 days.

The drastically reduce your cognition, and have horrible side effects.

Bonkers that the GP even suggested them.

Research shows that a low carb ketogenic or carnivore diet - that’s high fat (70% calories) and protein (30%) - so eat butter, lard, beef, bacon, eggs can reverse diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and increase cognition.

You’ll lose weight too. Get fatty cuts and eat more than you think you should. Eat twice a day - eggs fried in double cream for breakfast, and a fatty steak only for dinner.

No more than 20g carbohydrates.
No alcohol, no coffee.
You’ll be right as rain in no time.

Salads contain oxalates, which make kidney stones. Leave them to the herbivores who have four stomachs and can chew the cud.

Sorry Venus but that sounds like the diet from hell!

One I avoid dairy so frying in double cream?? Not a chance.

I do eat grilled steaks though.

I have one coffee a day and it is a pleasure for me, as is occasional wine.

I'd rather risk the statins tbh...one has to have some joy in life.

And eating a large salad three times a day will be expensive in these times.
Especially if what’s needed to make one is fresh salad ingredients.

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Update today- the bloods came back and just had message from the GP I saw last week.

My Qrisk is down by 0.5%! There was no breakdown but my blood cholsterol was taken yesterday so I am assuming it is that recent test that has brought it down.

Maybe it is the salad, maybe not but she gave me the choice of starting statins now or waiting three months- so I am going to carry on with the salads for three months if I can.

Either way it is good news for me so thankyou all for your info- and I think this thread can now be closed, although I may be back here in August!

I'm confused. I thought the problem was that you are pre-diabetic. Blood cholesterol doesn't assess diabetes. You need an HbA1c test for that - and there's no point doing an HbA1c test more frequently than every three months. You could still be pre-diabetic, but your GP doesn't seem to be addressing that. You need a proper breakdown of what has actually been tested and what the results were.

Sorry to confuse. It was my Qrisk, which the Dr didn't break down. I did say it was a bit bonkers. In fact, it is too confusing to explain here... the test I had a month ago said I was still pre-diabetic but they wanted me to start statins, which is a cholesterol thing, due to my Qrisk.

The Dr admitted I hadn't had my cholesterol checked for more than a year, so requested one.

Then she told me to eat salad before every meal, which I have and now my Qrisk has fallen.

I told you it was bonkers- but now I have a reprieve from the statins and no one said to have blood sugars tested again.

It's all to do with the algorhythms you see- the data on the screen.

I'm just glad I'm heading the right direction anyway...

I have found this thread interesting.
It did seem to be bonkers initially but comparing it to my experience I think your GP had a very refreshing outlook.
I had a bit of a heart scare and was encouraged to take statins.
I am not overweight, eat healthily, very little added sugar, UPF, lots of veg.
I was told that I may be able to get my cholesterol level down by diet. My cholesterol isn’t very high, just over the target level and as I eat a well balanced diet I didn’t feel that I could change much.
So I’m taking the statins- they have worked but I would rather eat salad.
I will bring it up next time I am in contact with a Health Professional. I haven’t spoken to or seen a GP for years even though I ended up in A&E after collapsing on a tennis court.

PamelaJ1 I'm sure eating salad instead of eating chips, pasties or puddings would benefit you, but if you're thinking of eating salad as an "add on"/supplement, I think I wouldn't give up on the statins just yet.

I take a low dose statin and have been eating salad (about half my plate for lunch and dinner is salad) for decades - I still need the statin (and the diabetic medications).

keepingquiet I'm still baffled. How has your QRisk score reduced, if the GP didn't have a baseline because you hadn't had your cholesterol tested for a year?