The Low Carb Way
- Written by
- Deepika Sulekh
It’s not just another diet. The low-carb, healthy fat way (LC/HF) is fast becoming a lifestyle choice, and as discovered by Taupō General Practitioner Dr Glen Davies, it’s also serving up a fresher perspective – and results – for diabetes treatment.
Glen’s interest in the low-carb approach piqued 18 months ago, following a health turnaround in the community of Waitahanui, and after witnessing a patient solve his own health conditions.
While there are mixed views on the low-carb and ‘keto’ lifestyles, his findings and further research by his colleagues uncovered several insights. These included traditional nutritional guidelines falling short, new ways of accessing stored fat, and a link to the carnivore connection hypothesis.
“During the caveman era, humans typically ate a low-carb diet full of meat and vegetables, and no processed food. By going back to that approach, we saw a reversal in diabetes and obesity,” he explains.
How does it work?
“By consuming less carbohydrates and more healthy fats, you minimise your intake of sugar and starches, which stabilises your blood sugar and insulin levels, allowing you to access stored fats and make fat burning easier,” explains Glen.
Now advocating the low-carb, healthy fat way of eating, Glen sees the biggest challenge as reversing everything we’ve been taught about nutrition. But a growing local following has people talking, trying it out, and seeing results – with the community of Waitahanui leading the way.
“What makes this unique is that it’s a first real community-based intervention of its kind.”
And Glen’s ultimate vision? “To see Taupō as a diabetes and obesity-free region. I see the first successes as getting people talking – taking an interest, starting conversation around diet. Even mindfulness in health choices would make a huge difference.”
The results?
Since Dr Glen Davies began advocating this new lifestyle, 31 patients have reversed type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, and 100 patients are seeing an average weight loss of 1.2kg per week (across three months). “Not only does this way of eating help lose weight, patients have seen improvement in sleep, arthritis, cancer and acne,” he says.
With just a lifestyle change, he rarely needs to prescribe insulin or other medication because the diet now keeps it under control.
Interested?
You can learn more about the LC/HF lifestyle at one of Glen’s weekly community meetings every Wednesday at 5.30pm – check out the Reverse T2 Diabetes Taupo page on Facebook for the updated venue.