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Video Presentations on Diabetes and the Ketogenic Diet

"Flipping the Switch: From Insulin Resistance to Type 2 Diabetes" - Dr. Benjamin Bikman

Dr. Benjamin Bikman earned his Ph.D. in Bioenergetics and was a postdoctoral fellow with the Duke-National University of Singapore in metabolic disorders. He is currently a professor of pathophysiology and a biomedical scientist at Brigham Young University in Utah.

Dr. Bikman's professional focus as a scientist and professor is to better understand chronic modern-day diseases, with a special emphasis on the origins and consequences of obesity and diabetes, with an increasing scrutiny of the pathogenicity of insulin and insulin resistance. He frequently publishes his research in peer-reviewed journals and presents at international science meetings.

Dr. Bikman has long been an advocate of a ketogenic diet in light of the considerable evidence supporting its use as a therapy for reversing insulin resistance. His website InsulinIQ.com promotes dietary clarity, healing, and freedom through evidence-based science about insulin resistance. Employing cell-autonomous to whole-body systems, Dr. Bikman's recent efforts have focused on exploring the intimate associations between the metabolic and immune systems. 

Insulin and Ketones with Dr. Ben Bikman, PhD

"Insulin vs. Ketones - The Battle for Brown Fat" - Dr. Ben Bikman, PhD

"Ketogenic Diet and Diabetes" - Dr. Richard Feinman, PhD

"Carbohydrate: The Dose is the Poison!" - Dr. Gary Fettke

Dr. Gary Fettke is an Orthopaedic Surgeon practising in Launceston, Tasmania. Along with his wife Belinda, Gary opened the 'Nutrition for Life – Diabetes and Health Research Centre' based in Launceston which provides nutritional care around Tasmania and Australia.

Gary has a longstanding interest in the preventative aspects of health outcomes, particularly before operating on his patients. Recently an AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)  investigation into Gary’s qualifications to give nutritional advice has concluded. This investigation (which lasted for more than two years) has resulted in Gary being issued a ‘caution’.

The Medical Board of Tasmania, under the umbrella of the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority, have advised him; ”In particular, that he does not provide specific advice or recommendations on the subject of nutrition and how it relates to the management of diabetes or the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.” Gary was later cleared of all charges and issued a formal apology from AHPRA.

"Type 2 Diabetes" - Dr. Gary Fettke

The Perfect Treatment for Diabetes and Weight Loss

What is the perfect treatment that can cure type 2 diabetes (!) and lead to effortless weight loss? Listen to the eloquent Dr. Jason Fung describe it in this 12-minute part of a longer interview.

** Observe: This treatment is extremely effective. If you have diabetes and take blood sugar lowering medication (especially insulin injections) you may need to reduce the doses a lot to avoid potentially dangerous hypoglycemia. You may instantly become too healthy for your medication. **

In the full 45 minute interview Dr. Fung goes into more detail about exactly how to add fasting to your low-carb diet, important things to consider and how to avoid potential problems.

"Diabetes Epidemic & You - An Introduction" - Dr. Joseph R. Kraft

Functional Hyperglycemia: Fact or Fiction and the "Diabetes Epidemic and You" - Dr. Joseph R. Kraft

It's the Insulin Resistance, Stupid! (Part One)

Professor Tim Noakes was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1949. As a youngster, he had a keen interest in sport and attended Diocesan College in Cape Town. Following this, he studied at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and obtained an MBChB degree in 1974, an MD in 1981 and a DSc (Med) in Exercise Science in 2002.

Prof. Noakes has published more than 750 scientific books and articles. He has been cited more than 19,000 times in scientific literature, has an H-index of 71 and has been rated an A1 scientist by the National Research Foundation of South Africa for a second 5-year term.  He has won numerous awards over the years and made himself available on many editorial boards.

In 2012, Tim founded 'The Noakes Foundation', a Non-Profit Corporation founded for public benefit which aims to advance medical science’s understanding of the benefits of a low-carb high-fat (LCHF) diet by providing evidence-based information on optimum nutrition that is free from commercial agenda. The foundation has also started the Eat Better South Africans campaign, which allows South Africans in even the poorest communities to adopt a high-fat, low-carb, extremely healthy diet for just three dollars per day. 

It's the Insulin Resistance, Stupid! (Part Two)

"Nine Years of Low Carb T2DM: Making a Long-Term Difference" - Dr. David Unwin & Dr. Jen Unwin

Dr. David Unwin is a practicing GP based in Southport in the United Kingdom and is a recognised international expert on the topic of carbohydrates and Type 2 diabetes. After 25 years of attempting to treat diabetes by conventional methods, Dr. Unwin stumbled upon the website www.diabetes.co.uk and from this revelation now ignores official advice and treats his patients with a low-carbohydrate diet.

David is the RCGP National Champion for Collaborative Care and Support Planning in Obesity & Diabetes. In 2015 he won the North West NHS ‘Innovator of the Year Award’ and in 2016 he won the National NHS 'Innovator of the Year Award' for his work in treating diabetes with a low carb.

Dr. Jen Unwin is a consultant clinical health psychologist who has worked in the NHS for over 30 years, helping people with chronic illnesses to improve their lives. She is also former chair of the UK Association for Solution Focused Practice. 

David and Jen are both founding members of the Public Health Collaboration (U.K.) and together the Unwin's have helped pioneer the use of low carbohydrate diets in the treatment of obesity and diabetes through a patient-centric model of ‘hope’.

Doctor's Low Carb Transformation - with Dr. David Unwin

Dr. Unwin was on the verge of retiring as a general practice physician in the UK. Then he found the power of low-carb nutrition and helped hundreds of patients in ways he never thought possible! As a result, he won the prestigious NHS Innovator of the Year award and was named one of the top ten most influential GPs in the UK.

Unwin continues to help patients dramatically improve their health through low-carb living. His story is an inspiration to physicians and patients alike. Dr. Unwin is leading the way to spread the message: there's a better way to achieve health. 

Low Carb for Doctors: Explaining Low Carb in a Simple Way

How do you make low carb simple for patients? Dr. Unwin explains that carbs break down into surprising amounts of sugar in the body.

In the sixth part of our low carb for doctors series, Dr. Unwin explains how doctors can explain the concept of low carb in simple terms to their patients.

Jeff Volek Explains the Power of Ketogenic Diets to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

This episode features an important interview with Dr. Jeff Volek, a researcher who has spent the past 20 years studying how humans adapt to carbohydrate-restricted diets.  His most recent work, which is one of the key topics of today’s interview, has focused on the science of ketones and ketogenic diets and their use as a therapeutic tool to manage insulin resistance.

In 2014, Volek became a founder and the chief science officer of Virta Health, an online specialty medical clinic dedicated to reversing diabetes, a chronic disease that has become a worldwide epidemic. The company’s ambitious goal is to reverse type 2 diabetes in 100 million people by 2025.

In addition to his role at Virta, Volek is a registered dietitian and full professor in the department of human sciences at Ohio State University. He is a co-author of “The New Atkins for a New You,” which came out 2010 and spent 16 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list. The book is an updated, easier-to-use version of Dr. Robert Atkins’ original 1972 book, “Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution.”

Volek has co-authored four other books, including “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living” and “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance.” Both books are co-authored with and delve somewhat deeper than “The New Atkins” did into the science and application of low-carb diets.

Although numerous studies have confirmed the validity and safety of low-carb and ketogenic diets, Volek and others who support carbohydrate restriction are often criticized for being so one-sided that their work comes across as more advocacy than science. But in “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living,” Volek writes:

“What is the proper response when three decades of debate about carbohydrate restriction have been largely one-sided and driven more by cultural bias than science? Someone needs to stand up and represent the alternate view and science.”

20 Years Low Carb Experience with Dr. Eric Westman, MD

Few people have as much experience helping patients use a low-carb lifestyle to improve their health as Dr. Westman. He has been doing this for over 20 years, and he approaches low-carb medicine from both a research and clinical perspective. Through the years, he's shared valuable insights about the clinical utility of low-carb lifestyles.

With his extensive knowledge, he's helped thousands of patients revitalize their heath. Interested in low carb? Then here's your chance to hear a veteran practitioner share his wisdom. 

"LCHF and Diabetes: Theory and Clinical Experience" - Dr. Eric Westman, MD

Dr. Eric C. Westman is an associate professor of medicine at Duke University Health System and director of the Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic.

Dr. Westman combines clinical research and clinical care to deliver lifestyle treatments for obesity, diabetes and tobacco dependence. He is an internationally known researcher specialising in low-carbohydrate nutrition and is co-author of 'The New Atkins For A New You', 'Keto Clarity' and 'Cholesterol Clarity'. He has also helped do several high-quality scientific studies on low carb.

Dr. Westman is currently the vice president of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians and a fellow of the Obesity Society and the Society of General Internal Medicine. 

Scholarly Articles on Diabetes and the Ketogenic Diet

Adapting Medication for Type 2 Diabetes to a Low Carbohydrate DietHealthcare professionals in the primary care setting need to be competent to safely adapt diabetes medications when patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) alter their diet. Safe prescribing practice is supported through an understanding of the clinical evidence, basic science, and pharmacology of medications. This review article supports clinicians in the practical application of this knowledge to achieve safe practice. Traditional medical training and clinical practice for chronic disease has long revolved around the teaching of intensifying therapy and evidenced based prescribing, a crucial skill when chronic disease progresses. Now that we are witnessing remission of Type 2 Diabetes through nutritional interventions specifically low carbohydrate diets (LCD) we must apply the same effort and thought to de-prescribing as the underlying metabolic condition improves. There is minimal guidance in the literature on how to actively de-prescribe. The American Diabetes Association in their Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes–2021 acknowledges low carbohydrate nutritional therapy (LCD) as a viable option in the management of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Thus, the goal of our paper is to help close the gap between the clinical evidence, basic science, and pharmacology of T2D medications to the practical application and teamwork needed to facilitate safe medication reduction in the primary care setting when applied to a LCD. The LCD is an increasingly popular and effective option for mana...
What predicts drug-free type 2 diabetes remission? Insights from an 8-year general practice service evaluation of a lower carbohydrate diet with weight lossBackground Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is often regarded as a progressive, lifelong disease requiring an increasing number of drugs. Sustained remission of T2D is now well established, but is not yet routinely practised. Norwood surgery has used a low-carbohydrate programme aiming to achieve remission since 2013. Methods Advice on a lower carbohydrate diet and weight loss was offered routinely to people with T2D between 2013 and 2021, in a suburban practice with 9800 patients. Conventional ‘one-to-one’ GP consultations were used, supplemented by group consultations and personal phone calls as necessary. Those interested in participating were computer coded for ongoing audit to compare ‘baseline’ with ‘latest follow-up’ for relevant parameters. Results The cohort who chose the low-carbohydrate approach (n=186) equalled 39% of the practice T2D register. After an average of 33 months median (IQR) weight fell from 97 (84–109) to 86 (76–99) kg, giving a mean (SD) weight loss of −10 (8.9)kg. Median (IQR) HbA1c fell from 63 (54–80) to 46 (42–53) mmol/mol. Remission of diabetes was achieved in 77% with T2D duration less than 1 year, falling to 20% for duration greater than 15 years. Overall, remission was achieved in 51% of the cohort. Mean LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.5 mmol/L, mean triglyceride by 0.9 mmol/L and mean systolic blood pressure by 12 mm Hg. There were major prescribing savings; average Norwood surgery spend was £4.94 per patient per year on drugs for diabetes compared with £11.30 for local practices. In the year ending January 2022, Norwood surgery spent £68 353 per year less than the area average. Conclusions A practical primary care-based method to achieve remission of T2D is described. A low-carbohydrate diet-based approach was able to achieve major weight loss with substantial health and financial benefit. It resulted in 20% of the entire practice T2D population achieving remission. It appears that T2D duration <1 year represents an important window of opportunity for achieving drug-free remission of diabetes. The approach can also give hope to those with poorly controlled T2D who may not achieve remission, this group had the greatest improvements in diabetic control as represented by HbA1c. Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available.
Adapting diabetes medication for low carbohydrate management of type 2 diabetes: a practical guideThe pathological changes associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be reversed through lifestyle measures, in some cases leading to remission.1 The low carbohydrate diet (LCD) is recognised as an effective option that is clinically inexpensive with few side effects.2 Many patients are achieving significant improvements in glycaemic control, with associated reduction in drug costs from cessation of hypoglycaemic agents.3 Digital-technology behaviour change solutions for T2D remission are being delivered at scale.4 Primary care clinicians need to be competent to adjust diabetes medications appropriately in individuals who follow an LCD. An LCD comprises <130 g of digestible carbohydrates per day.5 Digestible carbohydrate refers to sugars and complex carbohydrates such as starch, which is digested to glucose. Aligned with national guidance, carbohydrate choices in an LCD will typically be higher fibre and low glycaemic index (GI).6 Reduced total carbohydrate ingestion and low GI choices give the LCD a low glycaemic load (GL). In T2D the GI and GL of food consumed is a determinant of blood glucose level and thus the requirement for hypoglycaemic medication. Blood glucose levels typically fall substantially when an individual adopts an LCD. This article discusses key considerations regarding hypoglycaemic medications for an LCD and provides practical suggestions to prescribers. The recommendations are developed from the experience of the authors, discussion with …