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Wednesday, 5 February 2025

DIABETES NEWS : How 'pioneering' GP has transformed lives of 150 type 2 diabetes patients without drugs


If you have been reading this blog for a while you will probably know of Dr Unwin, but I happened across this article taken from one of the UK's national newspapers and thought it one to share ...

"Britain's most successful GP says colleagues call him a "mug" for prescribing life-changing advice instead of pills to cure type 2 diabetes.

David Unwin has seen 150 patients brought back from the brink with low-carb diets to reverse the debilitating condition.

Dr Unwin and his team started offering the option 12 years ago at his surgery in Southport.

And the results are remarkable with more than half of the Type 2 patients who signed up cured of the condition and medication-free.

Of those who had only had the condition for a year or less, 77% achieved drug-free remission. Among the patients that continued to need medication, 97% managed to get their diabetes symptoms under control.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition with a prevalence rising rapidly, especially among children. The problem is uncontrolled blood sugar with sufferers five times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke.

Dr Unwin said: "I am often asked why so few doctors set up clinics to do work like this. Several times I have had it pointed out I am a mug to do all this extra work for no extra pay to fund our low carb service.

"The NHS will never be able to cope until we do something about demand by looking seriously at prevention of chronic diseases.

"I believe we have eaten our way into a pandemic of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and chronic ill health. It is urgent we do something to help people understand that we are what we eat."

Dr Unwin added: "In my practice near Liverpool we have seen an astonishing ten-fold increase in Type 2 diabetes since I started as a GP in 1986. In 40 years this cannot be genetic but an environmental problem with poor diet as the most likely culprit.

"I am convinced it has been caused by the dramatic increase in poor quality takeaway meals and run-away consumption of junk foods."

The simple approach, which has saved the NHS almost £400,000 in the cost of diabetes drugs, sees patients eat nutritious and satiating food that does not see blood sugar rocket, like green vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

They are told to avoid industrially-made and so-called beige foods, like pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, and processed meats, crisps, snacks and alcohol.

On average patients in Dr Unwin's diabetes clinic - run for free and as an extra service - lost 10% of their body weight (equal to one and a half stones) - a weight loss maintained for three years.

There are now almost 5 million sufferers in the UK, a similar number thought to have it but undiagnosed, and 13 million at risk.

Taken together, it means roughly one third of the UK population has or is prone to the disease.

It is now being diagnosed routinely in children when 40 years ago it was almost exclusively a condition seen in the elderly and known as Sugar Diabetes.

The disease is diagnosed with a haemoglobin blood test known as a Hba1c with the threshold being two readings of 48 or more. A reading of 42 or above is considered pre-diabetes.

Starchy foods like bread or potato are broken down into sugar by digestion but in people with the disease the hormone insulin - which regulates blood sugar - fails and sufferers become resistant to its effects. Blood sugar starts to rise, damaging circulation and blood vessels, causing inflammation. Sufferers are often overweight as livers become clogged with fat.

Before launching his pioneering service Dr Unwin had never heard of a single case of remission from Type 2 diabetes without drugs.

The NHS spends £15 billion a year servicing the condition - equal to £1 million every hour. Metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed diabetes medications.

Dr Unwin's practice has saved more than £370,000 on diabetes drugs in the past six years, in addition to saving cash on weight loss drugs, blood pressure medication and statins.

He said: "Eating lots of green veg with protein and healthy fats leaves you full up in a way that lasts.

"As an NHS GP, things continue to deteriorate on the ground. Our practice has seen a ten-fold increase in the numbers of people suffering with Type 2 diabetes, a condition closely linked to overconsumption and obesity. A quick Look around any petrol station or supermarket will show the likely culprits: shelf after shelf of sugary treats, crisps, and chocolate bars. All washed down with litres of equally sugary drinks.

"We gave up waiting for someone else to tell us how to solve this problem and started offering a low carb approach. The idea is a logical one, why not eat nutritious food that doesn't put your blood sugar up? Foods like green veg, meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

"We are achieving an average weight loss of over 10% body weight (or one and a half stones) after three years.

"I am unaware of any national incentives for busy GPs either to take on this extra work or refer people. An intervention like ours may also work in other areas. Surely now is the time to invest in drug-free prevention."

Follow Dr Unwin's golden rules to help combat rising blood sugar and ward off type 2 diabetes:

1. Sugar - cut it out altogether, although it will be in the blueberries, strawberries and raspberries you are allowed to eat. Cakes and biscuits are a mixture of sugar and starch that make it almost impossible to avoid food cravings; they just make you hungrier

2. Reduce starchy carbs - these digest down into surprising amounts of sugar. Cut out 'white stuff' like bread, rice, pasta, potato, and cereals. All green vegetables and salads are fine. Eat as much of these as you can and turn the white green.

3. Fruit is tricky - some tropical fruits like bananas, oranges, grapes, mangoes or pineapple have too much sugar and can set carb cravings off. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples and pears are better.

4. Eat healthy protein - try to base meals on non-processed meat like chicken or red meat, eggs, and oily fish like salmon and mackerel.

5. Healthy fats are fine in moderation - olive oil is very useful, butter may be tastier than margarine and could be better for you, and coconut oil is great for stir fries. Four essential vitamins A, D, E and K are only found in some fats or oils. But avoid margarine, corn oil and vegetable oil.

6. Beware of 'low fat' foods - these often have sugar or sweeteners added to make them palatable. Full fat mayonnaise and pesto are definitely ok but cheese - a very calorific mixture of fat, and protein - should only be eaten in moderation.

7. Avoid snacking because it becomes habit forming - unsalted nuts like almonds or walnuts are fine to stave off hunger and the occasional treat of strong dark chocolate is also acceptable in a small quantity.

8. Alcohol is full of carbohydrates - beer is almost liquid toast hence beer bellies. The odd glass of dry white, red wine or spirits is not too bad if it doesn't make you hungry afterwards - or just plain water with a slice of lemon. Sweeteners can trick you into being even hungrier, making weight loss more difficult. Drink tea, coffee, and water or herbal teas but remember 100ml milk is one teaspoon of sugar."
Words above from article here 

Dr Unwin / Diabetes /Additional Reading
From 2016 
UK doctor saves government £45K by using low carb diet to treat type 2 diabetes, read it here
From 2019
DIABETES NEWS : How Low Carb Can Help : Plus a Favourite Recipe, the post shares news relating to Diabetes and Eating Low Carb, read it here
From 2020
DIABETES NEWS : Study shows low carb reverses diabetes and saves money, read it here
From 2024
'What to eat if you discover you’re prediabetic', read it here


Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog, something for everyone to read and enjoy...

But please note, articles within this blog are provided for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor, pharmacist or any other health care professional.

Not all recipes within this blog may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic (more about this here) and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

24 comments:

Tom said...

...it works.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

Mari said...

Wow - this is so interesting! As a nurse I've seen the effects of Type 2 diabetes so often and seeing it reversed this way is incredible. He's an amazing doctor!

roentare said...

I admire his good work and lifechanging approach to diabetes.

Angie's Recipes said...

Love Dr. Unwin! Listened to his talk with other keto channels on youtube a lot of times.

Margaret D said...

Good on him and good advice.

Giorgio said...

Great post about dr. Unwin's golden rules! Actually, I noticed that sugar makes me hungrier. As he mentioned in the 2nd point, we have to turn white green, as refined flours are not useful for our body. He also specifies the importance of olive oil.
Thank you, Jan :-)

jabblog said...

If only these results could be replicated across the country, but it requires the breaking of so many bad habits. We want instant gratification for our 'hunger.'

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
It is great you can control diabetes with diet without using the medicine.
Great information and post. Take care, have a great day!

Sami said...

Wish we had more doctors like Dr Unwin. With most health problems, most doctors will just prescribe medication without even investigating the patient's lifestyle and what could be changed to avoid the medication. And it saves the Health services so much money too!

Sue said...

What a man, all GP's should be like this. What a shame that he is called a mug, and also that he has to do it in his own time. Prevention is so much better than cure. Have a great day Jan xx

Inger said...

A great doctor I had not heard of. I have type 1 diabetes.Using insulin, I have managed it well for 35 years without being too strict with my diet. Reading this, it sounds like type 2 people must be much, much more careful with their diets than I have to be. I have a friend with type 2 and she's struggling with control much more than I do. Maybe having type 1 is not so bad, after all.

Jeanie said...

This is an excellent article with very good hints. My GP is very much like this guy. And boy -- I have had wonderful luck with low carb and losing weight and lowering blood sugar. (Now that it is post holiday, I have to get back to the program; I was over indulgent this year!) But yes, lost over 10 percent of weight (actually 20) in about a year or a little over. Another 10 would be perfect! thanks for this wonderful reminder.

Ananka said...

He is so right. And I am all for getting people off the pills, when a change in diet can make all the difference. Reminds me of all the good work the late Michael Mosley did.

Dianna said...

Jan, thank you for sharing this article full of such wonderful information. I have a friend who is a Type 2 diabetic and I'm going to share this blog post with her. xx

Sandi said...

100 ml is a little less than half a cup!

Bill said...

Results without pills, excellent article.

Creations By Cindy said...

Very good article. Thanks for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Teresa said...

Un gran reportaje como siempre ¡ se lo mostraré a mi marido !. Besos.

Shrimpton and Perfect said...

I do know this, but so nice to see it all written down and recommended by a health professional. A great reminder of how to do better. Thanks

Debbie said...

diabetes is such a terrible disease, it impacts everything. finding a way to fight it, without using medication is wonderful news. i have been very lucky so far to have normal blood sugars!!

Conniecrafter said...

I will be getting my levels checked again next month I am curious how well my levels will be since we have gone on a lower carb diet, I am thankful it hasn't been high but hoping I have brought it down even further

The Happy Whisk said...

It's wonderful to get folks off the pills and into a better way of living.

Back2OurSmallCorner said...

Dr Unwin has had a positive impact on many lives. Results without pills just has to be a winner.