Dr. David Unwin on Type 2 Diabetes Remission With Low-Carb Nutrition

Type 2 diabetes is often treated as a chronic, progressive disease, but Dr. David Unwin has spent years showing that, for many patients, remission is possible through low-carb nutrition and a different approach to care.

In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Unwin about how his work as an NHS primary care physician changed after he began focusing on insulin resistance, carbohydrate intake, and the underlying drivers of type 2 diabetes rather than blood sugar alone.

Dr. Unwin shares how his approach to care evolved and discusses published real-world findings on type 2 diabetes remission among patients who chose a low-carb approach. He also explains why long-term maintenance became just as important as achieving remission in the first place, and how he uses continuous glucose monitors to support that process. He also describes his approach to behavioral support, including addressing food addiction.

They discuss:

• How Dr. Unwin’s approach to type 2 diabetes changed after discovering low-carb nutrition
• What his published NHS data show about drug-free diabetes remission
• Why insulin resistance is central to how he explains type 2 diabetes to patients
• How low-carb diets can be personalized using A1C, weight, waist circumference, and continuous glucose monitoring
• Why maintaining remission can be harder than achieving it
• The role food and carbohydrate addiction may play in long-term adherence
• How continuous glucose monitors can provide immediate feedback
• Where GLP-1 medications may fit alongside nutrition and behavior change
• Why medication management with a healthcare provider is especially important when starting a low-carb diet
• What Dr. Unwin believes the rise in type 2 diabetes tells us about changes in our food environment

Dr. Unwin’s experience shows how much can change when clinicians look beyond glucose control and ask what may be driving the disease in the first place. His work also offers a hopeful reminder that type 2 diabetes does not always have to follow the progressive path many patients are taught to expect.

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Expert Featured:

Dr. David Unwin

• https://x.com/lowcarbGP

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Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.