In my practice at the Taupo Medical Centre, to date 42 patients at TMC have put their diabetes or prediabetes into remission. There are many others from the RT2D Taupo group who have done the same but we have not been collecting statistics from the wider group.

We:

• Educate and support members with Low Carb Healthy Fat and modified ketogenic approaches.
• Promote a nutrition plan rich in above ground vegetables.
• Strongly advise against added sugar and refined/processed carbohydrates.
• Promote the use of natural fats, avoiding industrial seed oils and processed fats.
• Emphasise the central role of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in the causation of overweight, obesity and diabetes.
• Run regular beginner meetings and the Facebook group is used to publish videos from these meetings.
• Recommend “What the Fat” by Prof Grant Schofield as a basic textbook.
• Have two coaches if people are wanting to pay for additional support.

The most gratifying results have been seen in the Maori community. One particular community with 177 dwellings commenced adopting the “Keto Kaupapa”, have catered events at the Marae, started growing communal gardens, cleaned out the stream so watercress is growing, and have distributed food using traditional methods. Many community members hunt wild pigs and deer, and many are skilled fly fishermen. At the Kura/school, some processed food items are replaced with “healthy options” – Kapai Kai – and the unhealthy food item is sent home.

I have noticed a significant change in the Taupo Community, with nutrition being the topic on everyone’s lips. When I eavesdrop on conversations in cafes, I am hearing conversations about “macros” net vs total carbs, label reading, and exercise.

I became obsessed with the concept of reversing diabetes after A/Prof John Stevens shared the Direct Trial, and after seeing the work of David Unwin in the UK using a LCHF Diet. Then, a patient who had reversed several of his own chronic health conditions with nutrition, plonked a pile of books on my desk and demanded I read them.

For me personally in my role as a GP, I offer every patient the opportunity to reverse their chronic disease (i.e. diabetes, pre-diabetes, NAFLD, hypertension, gout) without medication or to reduce and hopefully stop their medications. I also discuss the importance of nutrition in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. I measure fasting insulin and fasting glucose, and use an online calculator called QUICKI (Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index) to determine the degree of insulin resistance. I find this an important educational tool.

My patients are universally grateful to be offered the opportunity for lifestyle change. Patients who take up the challenge seem to feel empowered. Many are losing weight without being hungry, and are maintaining their weight loss. I recorded weight loss stats on the first 100 patients, and they lost weight at 1.2kg per week. Prior to learning about the importance of hyperinsulinemia and the need to restrict carbs, I can not recall a single case of diabetes reversal. Now I consider it usual practice to reverse diabetes, and often find that those who are unable to stop insulin are actually type 1 diabetes, often LADA.