Why Black Swans Matter: The difference N=1 and noticing success can make

[bigleg]

A wonderful presentation from Dr Unwin posted yesterday on You Tube. This presentation was given in Australia at the end of 2019: youtube.com/watch?v=AoCzm9-...(Not working as expected?)

[AnnieW55]

Thanks for posting that - very interesting. May come in useful in the near future with a family member!

[Sheperdess]

It was good to hear from a converted GP. I’m thinking about which will be the best (ie most convincing) publications to take with me at my next GP appointment when I ask about coming off my BP medication 🤓

[bigleg in reply to Sheperdess]

Have you heard of the Public Health Collaboration - phcuk.org? The PHC was founded in 2016 and Dr Unwin is a founder member. All his sugar equivalence infographics are available on the web site and they are now NICE endorsed for T2 diabetics. A number of GPs are founder members, including Dr Campbell Murdoch chief medical officer for diabetes.co.uk and Dr Ian Lake, T1D Lead for diabetes.co.uk. Dr Joanne McCormack is another GP founder member. Joanne has a useful little web site fatismyfriend.co.uk. dietdoctor.com is a huge resource and Dr Unwin has produced the guide for GPs. I hope you find that helpful.

[Sheperdess in reply to bigleg]

I have had a quick scan but it seems like I need to take a closer look. Thanks very much for the links and prompt. 👍

[Subtle_badger in reply to Sheperdess]

Dr Unwin isn't taking his patients of BP meds on the basis of a theory or paper. It's because their pressure has dropped to the point where they don't seem needed anymore.

High blood pressure is deadly. No GP will take you off them if they don't believe you need them.

Read up on how to make sure you blood pressure reading is as low as it can be: arrive in plenty of time, don't talk, no coffee in the morning, dehydration etc etc. If your blood pressure is low, that's all your doctor should need to take you off the meds.

[Sheperdess in reply to Subtle_badger]

My BP has already lowered to the extent that I may not need medication. Having said that, I am not convinced it will be as easy to be de-prescribed as you do but I do hope I am wrong.

[bigleg in reply to Sheperdess]

Sheperdess, only just seen your comment. Years ago I bought myself a BP monitor because I never wanted to be bullied into taking BP med. That will have been around 2007. I have lived with lymphedema since a teenager and now 72. For some years I had lived with minimal compression garments as I had been living overseas and it was an existing condition so not covered by private health insurance. Was not covered by the NHS when we moved overseas. I mention the Lymphedema because I was having serious issues with an ingrowing toenail into the very swollen big toe. On a pre-op check my BP recorded at the level they like to use caution. I mentioned that I have kept a record of regular recordings so told to take to my GP. I showed him the recordings – he was a lovely old fashioned GP and said – FINE and supplied the appropriate approvals. I still maintain those regular records. They are really valuable as they do record trends that only you know your life events at the time of each reading.

My advice is buy yourself a BP monitor, wrist or arm, both seem to be very consistent and keep your own records. I simply built a simple spreadsheet that summarises and averages the readings. If you have our own data you know what is happening day in day out. They will be far more reliable than one off surgery BP measurements. You can then form your own opinion on whether medication may or may not be appropriate.

[Sheperdess in reply to bigleg]

Thank you for your story and your sound advice bigleg. I have just restarted taking my BP regularly with a home monitor and am seeing quite large reductions compared to my previous levels. As I feel ok and my hypertension treatment is still warranted (per my home readings), it is too early to consider any medication reductions yet. However, your suggestion to share my readings when I do visit my GP is a good one which I hope to take soon 😊 Thanks again.

[bigleg in reply to Sheperdess]

You are welcome and hope they help. Dr Unwin has produced several training programs for GPs posted on their RCGP web site.

I am not sure how up to date these links are but you could alert your GP to their existance: The Royal College of General Practitioners - CPD Points are awarded to any GPs using the resource.

The preamble: Type 2 diabetes and the low GI diet peer reviewed, evidence based eLearning course For GPs, written by Dr David Unwin. Over the months he has updated. When he first uploaded we were able to view them without logging on. Now I am unable to get the title of the first of the 3. The remainder allow me to see the front page but would need to logon (as a GP, which I am not) so have the titles. I would suggest informing your GP of their existance if he/she is not yet aware. They are less than 30 mins.

elearning.rcgp.org.uk/cours...

Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/p...

Non-Fatty Liver Disease: Assessment and Management: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/p...

[Sheperdess in reply to bigleg]

Thank you so much 😊 Evidence-based information from medical peers is perfect 👌 👏