Friend's Rx Diet Sounds Dangerous...

Sunsh1ne
Sunsh1ne Posts: 879 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
This girl I work with came back from spring break on a new diet. Her doctor told her she's prediabetic and prescribed these 100-calorie meal substitutes for her. She's supposed to have five of them a day, every 2-ish hours, and she gets one 300-calorie meal a day that has to be carb-free. That's only 800 calories a day, for six weeks, and I am so worried because it's not enough! He told her not to work out, but that doesn't take into account all the running around a college student has to do to begin with, especially because she's a drama student in the middle of FOUR productions right now. She was complaining about how weak she feels - her hands shake constantly, she's moody and tired, and she can only walk up three or four steps before she has to stop.

I'm all for putting the kibosh on diabetes, but this diet seems dangerous! Can anyone offer opinions or experience? Has your doc had you do something like this? Did it work? Does this seem unsafe to you? She's talking about how he expects her to drop 20 pounds this month, and to me, doing that without adequite supervision (this doctor is her doc from home, 2-3 hours away, who she won't see until mid-May) seems like such a bad idea. I'm worried my friend will end up in the hospital.

ETA that my friend also has an underactive thyroid.

Replies

  • wriglucy
    wriglucy Posts: 1,064 Member
    Hi...I agree that it doesn't sound good. My mom is a renal dietician (kidneys), and she says the doctors don't know anything about nutrition. Nutrition is not a doctor's specialty....it is a registered dietician's specialty> I'd be cautious about nutrionists too, because not all of them need degrees, a registered dietician has a degree, and has to do continuing education to keep their registration.
    I'd see if she could make an appt with a dietician. I would DEFINITELY take the opinion of someone who has a specialty in that area, than a doctor who has to know the basics in many areas.
  • KateDonnelly
    KateDonnelly Posts: 53
    Dangerous! I agree. She needs a second opinion, a new doctor and probably a nutrition specialist of some kind. Whatever is appropriate for her area.
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    As a diabetic myself, I would encourage her to see a registered dietician-- especially one that specializes in diabetes. There's a difference in cutting back cals to lose weight and STARVING one's self. Unless she's 400 lbs, I don't see dropping 20 lbs in a month to be reasonable AT ALL.
  • simona1972
    simona1972 Posts: 355 Member
    Im pre-diabetic and my doc only told me to eat more whole foods, cut out processed foods, junk food etc... He told me to exercise daily - that would be the key to good health.

    Ive never been told to only eat 800 cals a day and not exercise. Id try and convince her to get a 2nd opinion. Does the college offer any nutritional counselling? My university did that. It was free. We also had access to the university's grad students who were studying health/nutrition and all that stuff.
  • megamom
    megamom Posts: 920 Member
    And I have to wonder about what her sugar is doing since she is weak and has the shakes, usually that means my patients have a low sugar. I agree with all the advice given above. Your a good friend.
  • seesylrun
    seesylrun Posts: 22 Member
    You know...that diet sounds a little extreme. I was pre-diabetic (and now diabetic because I didn't take charge) but my doctor told me to eat a healthy, balanced diet and to exercise on a regular basis. He suggested vitamin supplements specifically for diabetics (Alphabetic) and to do a sort of boot camp workout. Meaning, get your heart rate up and then drop it down. I guess it keeps your body guessing and your metabolism rev'ed up. I started the C25K program and have been losing weight steadily. Diabetes is often related to visceral stomach fat so I have also started a tummy toning program. I eat a high fiber, protein balanced diet of 1650 calories. The calorie intake really depends on her starting weight though. I have had 3 different doctors over several years of my pre-diabetes/diabetes journey and never have I been put on a 800 calorie diet.

    Your friends diet sounds like a crash diet which might take off pounds quickly but when she goes back to eating normally she might just gain it all back.

    Maybe you can suggest MFP to her? This site is so great and so much support. Also, she might want to get a second opinion from a trained nutritionist?! I'm not a doctor and don't claim to know all about diabetes so your friends best bet is seeking out another professional to get some straight answers.

    Best of luck and your friend is really lucky to have you!! :)
  • lilchino4af
    lilchino4af Posts: 1,292 Member
    Dangerous! I agree. She needs a second opinion, a new doctor and probably a nutrition specialist of some kind. Whatever is appropriate for her area.
    A HUGE ditto!!!
    Your friends diet sounds like a crash diet which might take off pounds quickly but when she goes back to eating normally she might just gain it all back.
    It WILL come back; this post says it all: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing?hl=700+calories

    I really hate to make this statement, but after reading all the posts from everyone who are also diabetic, it makes me question the Doctor's ethics and whether he put her on that "diet" because he would get a kick back/incentive of some kind from the companies who are selling it (yes, it does happen, and probably more than we would like to admit!).
  • Sunsh1ne
    Sunsh1ne Posts: 879 Member
    Update: she ran through a bit later and mentioned that she also has an underactive thyroid. Now I'm really, really worried.
  • kelli_panzera
    kelli_panzera Posts: 171
    That makes me mad. I'm diabetic as well...its not like by treating your body like crap, it'll just go away. So basically the doc has her thinking if she starves herself for weeks she won't be pre-diabetic anymore? What a quack...thank God I have a physician who is reality-based :happy:
  • seesylrun
    seesylrun Posts: 22 Member
    Update: she ran through a bit later and mentioned that she also has an underactive thyroid. Now I'm really, really worried.

    Ohhh....please encourage her to get another doctor/opinion!!!
  • jennylynn84
    jennylynn84 Posts: 659
    Holy crap! Pre-diabetic and with an underactive thyroid?! She really needs to see a registered dietician. There's a LOT going on there and cookie-cutter doctors that are best for throwing an antibiotic at you when you get a cold really aren't the best to see. A specialist would be a great idea. She should get the documentation and info about her thyroid from the doc that diagnosed it and bring it with her to the dietician (though they might want to test all her levels personally anyway) so that she has an informed specialist that can advise her.

    I've heard of doctors giving closely monitored large calorie deficit diets to morbidly obese patients. But with everything that is going on with her body and the fact (ESPECIALLY) that she does not feel well on this diet - it probably isn't the best thing for her.

    Has she told her doctor about the weakness? Also, in my experience, if you have a doctor that doesn't listen when you tell them that their treatment makes you feel like hell and they don't respond, it's best to get a new one anyway.
  • Sunsh1ne
    Sunsh1ne Posts: 879 Member
    Thanks for all your responses, guys. Hopefully I can convince her to see our boss's doc, who is really good, and endorses seeking homeopathic remedies before prescriptions.
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