Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome to the Health Pulse, your go-to source for quick, actionable insights on health, wellness and diagnostics. Whether you're looking to optimize your well-being or stay informed about the latest in medical testing, we've got you covered. Join us as we break down key health topics in just minutes. Let's dive in.

Speaker 2: 0:26

Welcome to the Deep Dive. We're here to cut through the noise and really get to the heart of things, and today we're focusing on a really big health topic type 2 diabetes. I mean, did you know it affects over 38 million Americans. That's just staggering.

Speaker 3: 0:43

It is, and the common story, you know, is that it's this lifelong thing.

Speaker 2: 0:46

Right Something you just manage. Right Right Pills, insulin, maybe some lifestyle tweaks.

Speaker 1: 0:50

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 0:51

But always just symptom control.

Speaker 3: 0:53

Exactly. But what if that whole standard approach is kind of Backward? What if we're missing something fundamental?

Speaker 2: 1:00

And that leads us to this maybe radical dietary idea. We're going to explore A pretty radical one.

Speaker 3: 1:05

yeah, we're hinting at not just cutting carbs, but maybe getting rid of them almost entirely.

Speaker 2: 1:11

So that's the core of today's deep dive, this let's call it controversial all meat protocol, the carnivore diet and looking at its potential maybe for actual remission in type 2 diabetes. Now I know, first glance sounds pretty extreme.

Speaker 3: 1:26

It definitely does sound extreme, but when you think about insulin resistance, which is really the key issue in type 2 diabetes, the hallmark yeah. Yeah, the hallmark this kind of approach. Well, it goes straight for that underlying metabolic mess.

Speaker 2: 1:39

Okay, so our mission today, then we're going to unpack how type 2 diabetes actually develops, right.

Speaker 3: 1:44

Right. And what makes this carnivore diet so different?

Speaker 2: 1:47

With the early research and maybe some case studies are showing.

Speaker 3: 1:51

And, crucially, how you can use strategic lab testing to actually track your own progress, if this is a path you're even considering, Because it really comes down to understanding those metabolic roots, starting with insulin resistance. That's the key. Got to understand that first.

Speaker 2: 2:08

So let's start right there. We always hear type 2 diabetes talked about as just high blood sugar, but is that the whole story or is something deeper going on?

Speaker 3: 2:17

Yeah, that's a great question. High blood sugar is definitely what gets diagnosed. It's the symptom, but the real problem, the underlying issue, is insulin resistance.

Speaker 2: 2:26

Okay, explain that a bit more.

Speaker 3: 2:29

So basically your body's cells. They stop responding properly to insulin. Insulin's the hormone that unlocks the cells to let glucose in for energy. Right. When the cells get resistant, your pancreas has to work. Overtime it pumps out more and more insulin to try and force the glucose in. Ah okay, and that leads to the state called hyperinsulinemia, just chronically high insulin levels.

Speaker 2: 2:50

And this can happen silently, before the blood sugar even goes up.

Speaker 3: 2:53

Exactly For years, sometimes even decades, before your blood glucose hits those diabetic levels. So by the time you get the diagnosis, well, a lot of the metabolic damage is already done. So by the time you get, the diagnosis.

Speaker 2: 3:05

Well, a lot of the metabolic damage is already done. Wow, okay. So what's actually driving that? Why do the cells stop responding?

Speaker 3: 3:11

The main driver typically is just too many carbohydrates, especially, you know, the refined stuff, grains, sugary drinks, all those ultra processed foods.

Speaker 2: 3:19

The standard modern diet base.

Speaker 3: 3:20

Pretty much. These foods spike your blood glucose again and again, forcing the pancreas to just flood the system with insulin.

Speaker 2: 3:27

And over time the cells just get numb to it.

Speaker 3: 3:30

They get desensitized, they stop listening. Think about this. There's research showing your body might be whispering warnings insulin resistance for maybe like 13 years 13 years. Yeah, Before it shouts diabetes with high blood sugar. That just completely reframes the timeline, doesn't it?

Speaker 2: 3:47

It absolutely does so if the usual treatments are just lowering blood sugar with meds but not fixing that core insulin resistance.

Speaker 3: 3:55

And disease just keeps progressing underneath. Yeah, no-transcript.

Speaker 2: 4:10

Okay, so that brings us squarely to the carnivore diet. Lay it out for us. What exactly is it?

Speaker 3: 4:15

Okay. So at its core it's super low carb, like ultra low carb, high fat, moderate protein.

Speaker 2: 4:21

And it's only animal foods.

Speaker 3: 4:22

High fat moderate protein, and it's only animal foods, exclusively animal-based foods. So think meat, organ meats, fish, seafood, animal fats like butter or tallow.

Speaker 2: 4:32

What about eggs Dairy?

Speaker 3: 4:34

Some versions allow eggs, maybe some dairy, yeah, but the key difference even from keto or paleo.

Speaker 2: 4:40

Right, because they might allow some low-carb veggies or nuts.

Speaker 3: 4:42

Exactly the carnivore diet aims to eliminate all carbohydrates no fruit, no vegetables, no grains, no legumes, zero sugar.

Speaker 2: 4:50

Wow, okay, that sounds incredibly restrictive. I mean really restrictive.

Speaker 3: 4:54

It definitely sounds that way to most people, but the reason it's so radical and potentially therapeutic for metabolic issues is that complete removal of anything that raises glucose.

Speaker 2: 5:06

So by taking out all the carbs.

Speaker 3: 5:07

Your body is forced into a deep state of nutritional ketosis. It starts burning fat and ketones for fuel, not sugar.

Speaker 2: 5:14

And we know ketosis can improve insulin sensitivity and lower inflammation.

Speaker 3: 5:18

We've more, and unlike even a standard keto diet which might allow, say, 20, maybe 50 grams of carbs a day.

Speaker 2: 5:24

Carnivore aims for zero.

Speaker 3: 5:25

Aims for zero. So you're minimizing that glycemic load as much as humanly possible. You're basically removing all dietary glucose sources.

Speaker 2: 5:32

Okay, now you mentioned. Specific trials on the carnivore diet itself might be well still emerging, but can we learn from the studies on very low-carb or keto diets? Is the mechanism similar enough?

Speaker 3: 5:44

That's a really good point. Yeah, the formal large-scale randomized controlled trials specifically on carnivore are still limited, but structurally it's very similar to those very low-carb ketogenic diets or VLCKDs.

Speaker 2: 5:59

Those have shown pretty significant results for blood sugar control and insulin levels.

Speaker 3: 6:02

They absolutely have. Now some carnivore proponents also talk about things like plant anti-nutrients potentially causing gut issues or inflammation. That's still a bit controversial scientifically, but the undeniable part by getting rid of all the carbs, you remove the main fuel that drives insulin resistance in the first place. For someone really struggling with blood sugar, that simplicity can be incredibly powerful.

Speaker 2: 6:26

Okay, that makes sense. So let's get to the mechanism. How does this seemingly extreme approach actually work to potentially reverse type 2 diabetes? What's happening metabolically?

Speaker 3: 6:36

The absolute key is removing that root trigger dietary carbs Every time you eat carbs, especially the refined ones.

Speaker 2: 6:42

Blood sugar goes up, insulin comes out.

Speaker 3: 6:45

Right and over time, doing that constantly makes your cells less responsive. So by cutting out all dietary carbs, you basically stop needing those big insulin spikes.

Speaker 2: 6:54

You take the pressure off the pancreas.

Speaker 3: 6:56

Exactly. Insulin demand plummets, fasting, insulin levels can start to come down and cellular insulin sensitivity has a chance to actually improve.

Speaker 2: 7:05

So it's like hitting a metabolic reset button. What are the specific benefits we're looking for here for someone with type 2 diabetes?

Speaker 3: 7:12

OK, first, zero glycemic load. No carbs means no blood sugar spikes from food. That keeps insulin low and stable.

Speaker 2: 7:20

Makes sense.

Speaker 3: 7:21

Second, improved insulin sensitivity. We see this in the very low carb diet studies. Lab markers for insulin resistance, like HOPO-MA IR, often improve pretty quickly, sometimes within weeks or months. Okay, what else? Third, reduced inflammation. Type 2 diabetes is, at its heart, an inflammatory condition. A meat-based diet cuts out a lot of common inflammatory triggers seed oils, processed junk, sugar, Right. Studies on low-carb diets do show reductions in C-reactive protein, which is a key marker of inflammation.

Speaker 2: 7:50

Okay, glycemic load, insulin sensitivity, inflammation. Is there another big one, maybe related to body fat?

Speaker 3: 7:57

Oh, absolutely Visceral fat loss, that deep belly fat Losing that is crucial for reversing insulin resistance.

Speaker 2: 8:05

Why is that fat so bad?

Speaker 3: 8:06

It's metabolically active in a bad way. It drives inflammation and dysfunction. Diets high in protein and fat with minimal insulin spikes seem to really help accelerate fat loss from the liver and the abdomen, those key areas driving the problem.

Speaker 2: 8:20

So basically, you're shutting down that insulin glucose roller coaster.

Speaker 3: 8:23

Precisely Allowing the body to re-stabilize blood sugar, calm inflammation and hopefully regain insulin sensitivity, potentially getting off medications entirely.

Speaker 2: 8:32

That is a very strong claim, which naturally leads us to ask what does the actual research say? You mentioned large carnivore trials are new, but what about those very low-carb studies?

Speaker 3: 8:42

Yeah, the evidence from very low-carb and keto diets is quite compelling. There was a 2021 study I think it was in Frontiers in Endocrinology followed over 260 adults with type 2 diabetes on a low-carb, high-fat plan.

Speaker 2: 8:54

Okay, what did they find?

Speaker 3: 8:55

Get this. After just one year, nearly everyone, like 94%, dramatically reduced or completely stopped their insulin use.

Speaker 2: 9:04

Wow, 94%.

Speaker 3: 9:05

Yeah, and over half achieved full diabetes remission based on standard criteria. That's not just managing, that's, like you said, potential reversal.

Speaker 2: 9:14

That's significant. Any other examples?

Speaker 3: 9:16

Well, there's the Virta Health trial. They used a well-formulated ketogenic diet. Participants saw, on average, a one point three percent drop in their HbA1c. That's a big deal, plus significant weight loss sustained over two years.

Speaker 2: 9:30

And, while not strictly carnivore, they share that core principle of minimal carbs.

Speaker 3: 9:35

Exactly Minimal carbohydrate intake, driving those results.

Speaker 2: 9:38

Also saw a survey, I think from 2021, in current developments in nutrition. They looked at over 2000 people actually following a carnivore diet. Yeah, what did that real world data show for diabetes?

Speaker 3: 9:49

Yeah, that one was interesting because it was self-reported, but still, 84% of the participants who had type 2 diabetes reported it was fully resolved on the diet 84% reported resolution. That's what they reported and most said they'd eliminated their glucose-lowering meds. They noted improvements in HbA1c fasting glucose weight inflammation markers. It points towards a trend. You know people feeling like they're actually reversing it.

Speaker 2: 10:12

And we're seeing physicians like Dr Truro-Kalaji and Dr Sean Baker reporting similar successes in their practices.

Speaker 3: 10:19

Right, they talk about using these meat-heavy, very low-carb approaches to help patients normalize A1c, lose that dangerous visceral fat and get off medications.

Speaker 2: 10:31

And they often emphasize lab monitoring, which we'll get back to. But OK, let's talk safety, because this is radical. People worry, right. What about kidneys? What about gout from all that meat?

Speaker 3: 10:41

Those are definitely common concerns and understandable ones, but thankfully a lot of it seems based on maybe outdated or misinterpreted science.

Speaker 2: 10:50

Okay, like the kidney issue.

Speaker 3: 10:51

Yeah, the high protein damaging kidneys idea. Multiple clinical reviews have looked at this and they haven't found evidence that high protein intake hurts kidneys in people with normal kidney function.

Speaker 2: 11:01

So if your kidneys are healthy to start with, High protein doesn't seem to be a problem.

Speaker 3: 11:05

Now, if someone already has advanced chronic kidney disease, that's different. Protein needs careful management there, but for most people not an issue.

Speaker 2: 11:14

And the gout connection Meat causing gout.

Speaker 3: 11:17

That's another one. Gout seems more strongly linked to high fructose intake and insulin resistance itself, rather than just red meat.

Speaker 2: 11:24

Really Sugar and alcohol are bigger culprits.

Speaker 3: 11:27

Recent studies point that way. Yeah, sugar, sweetened drinks, alcohol those seem to be the primary dietary triggers. In fact, some studies show low carb and keto diets can actually reduce inflammation and improve how your body handles uric acid.

Speaker 2: 11:41

Huh, so some old beliefs might need updating. Ok, so if someone is thinking about this, what are the realistic things they need to consider? Any downsides or challenges?

Speaker 3: 11:51

Well, there are definitely realistic considerations. Electrolyte imbalances can happen, especially when you first adapt the keto flu.

Speaker 2: 11:58

some people talk about Right Feeling, tired headaches, yeah.

Speaker 3: 12:01

But that's usually manageable with enough fluids and minerals, especially salt, sodium, potassium, magnesium.

Speaker 2: 12:07

OK, what else?

Speaker 3: 12:08

Some people might see their LDL cholesterol go up, at least temporarily, that famous bad cholesterol.

Speaker 2: 12:14

Oh, it would worry people.

Speaker 3: 12:15

It does, but it's really important to look at the whole picture.

Speaker 2: 12:25

Often, while LDL might go up, other, arguably stronger predictors of heart health get much better, like triglycerides, hdl inflammation markers get much better.

Speaker 3: 12:28

Like triglycerides, hdl inflammation markers Exactly. Triglycerides often plummet HDL, the good cholesterol goes up, insulin drops, inflammation goes down, so the overall cardiovascular risk profile often improves, even if LDL bumps up. Context is key. So, while we need more long-term trials, specifically on carnivore, the short to midterm metabolic benefits seem pretty measurable and often quite significant for many people.

Speaker 2: 12:52

Okay, and who absolutely needs medical guidance before even thinking about this. Oh, definitely.

Speaker 3: 12:56

Medical supervision is crucial if you're currently taking insulin or any glucose-lowering medications Very important to avoid dangerously low blood sugar hypoglycemia, as your needs change.

Speaker 2: 13:07

Makes sense? Who else?

Speaker 3: 13:09

Also anyone with advanced kidney disease, serious heart conditions, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding or have a history eating disorders. For pretty much anyone, though, starting this kind of major shift, lab testing is essential.

Speaker 2: 13:25

Right for safety and just tracking, if it's working.

Speaker 3: 13:27

Absolutely. You want to track things like HbA1c, fasting glucose and insulin so you can calculate home AIR for insulin resistance. A full lipid panel, c-reactive protein for inflammation.

Speaker 2: 13:38

And basic kidney function markers too.

Speaker 3: 13:40

Yeah, electrolytes, bun, creatinine, just to keep an eye on kidney function and hydration.

Speaker 2: 13:46

And that's where you know services making testing easier, like at-home collection, really help. Quicklab Mobile, for instance.

Speaker 3: 13:51

Definitely makes it more convenient to get that data.

Speaker 2: 13:54

So, okay, someone's listened to all this. They're intrigued, they're working with their doctor. What's sort of functional, medicine-informed way to actually start this transition?

Speaker 3: 14:02

Right, it's about doing it safely, personalizing it and measuring. Functional medicine always looks upstream, right? The insulin resistance, the inflammation, maybe mitochondrial issues driving the blood sugar problems. So step one is testing. Before you start Step one baseline labs. Absolutely, you need that comprehensive snapshot of where you are before changing anything. All those markers we just talked about A1C, insulin, glucose, hmar, crp, lipids, electrolytes, kidney markers, maybe even liver enzymes. That's your benchmark.

Speaker 2: 14:33

Okay, got the baseline Again, maybe using at-home testing for convenience. Then what? Step two is the actual transition.

Speaker 3: 14:40

Step two is managing that adaptation phase. Most people feel a bit off for the first week or two. The keto flu again adaptation phase. Most people feel a bit off for the first week or two. The keto flu again, yeah, so really push hydration, add sea salt or specific electrolyte supplements. Make sure you're eating enough fat. That's your new energy source, critical for ketosis. And don't skimp on protein. Eat until you're satisfied.

Speaker 2: 15:00

Track how you feel.

Speaker 3: 15:01

Track symptoms, yeah, energy levels, mental clarity, even bowel habits. Now, interestingly, if someone's insulin resistance is really severe, sometimes going kind of cold turkey into carnivore might actually stabilize their blood sugar faster.

Speaker 2: 15:14

But carefully, if on meds.

Speaker 3: 15:15

Crucially important to work with your doctor. If you're on diabetes, meds, dosages will likely need to come down, maybe quickly, as your glucose levels improve. Safety first.

Speaker 2: 15:24

Okay, so you get through the adaptation phase, maybe a few weeks. What's next?

Speaker 3: 15:28

Yeah, after maybe four to eight weeks on the diet, retest your labs.

Speaker 2: 15:32

Step three See what's changed from the baseline.

Speaker 3: 15:35

Exactly. Look at the changes in HbA1c. Fasting insulin. Are triglycerides down, HDL up? Is inflammation lower? How's the body composition changing? Energy Focus.

Speaker 2: 15:46

Use the data to guide the next steps.

Speaker 3: 15:48

Precisely From there. Maybe you stay full carnivore, if it's working wonders, or maybe you strategically reintroduce some low-glycemic veggies or fermented foods, seeing how your body responds. It's not about dogma.

Speaker 2: 15:59

It's about data-driven personalization.

Speaker 3: 16:01

Exactly. Using those lab markers takes the guesswork out. Measure what matters.

Speaker 2: 16:06

This has been really eye-opening. We started by saying type 2 diabetes is so often treated as this lifelong sentence, right?

Speaker 1: 16:12

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:13

Managed but not cured.

Speaker 3: 16:14

Just managed with pills, shots, maybe dietary advice. That, frankly, often doesn't get to the root cause.

Speaker 2: 16:21

But the evidence, especially from these low-carb approaches, it really does suggest that when you remove the underlying cause, the body has an amazing capacity to heal.

Speaker 3: 16:32

It really does seem that way. And the carnivore diet? Well, it challenges almost everything.

Speaker 2: 16:35

Mainstream nutrition tells us doesn't it, cutting out sugar, starch, fiber, even plants.

Speaker 3: 16:41

Yet for many people stuck in that cycle of insulin resistance, that extreme simplicity might be exactly why it works. You remove the foods driving the blood sugar spikes and inflammation.

Speaker 2: 16:51

And you give the body space, space to reset, maybe regenerate, restore some metabolic function.

Speaker 3: 16:57

That seems to be the potential mechanism. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:59

But it's so crucial to remember, like you said, it's not just the diet in a vacuum.

Speaker 3: 17:04

No diet works in isolation. You absolutely have to test track personalize.

Speaker 2: 17:08

Understand your insulin, not just your glucose. Look at inflammation, lipids, organ function.

Speaker 3: 17:12

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:13

Not just the number on the scale.

Speaker 3: 17:14

Right, and that's where accessible testing like QuickLab Mobile's at-home labs becomes so powerful. It gives you the actual data you need to measure what's truly changing metabolically.

Speaker 2: 17:25

Because that reversal potential seems real.

Speaker 3: 17:27

It seems possible. Yes, but only if you stop just managing the symptom, the high blood sugar, and start truly addressing the root cause.

Speaker 2: 17:36

Which leaves us with a final thought for you, the listener, to chew on If reversing type 2 diabetes is possible by tackling the root cause insulin resistance instead of just managing symptoms, what other chronic health conditions that we currently just manage might also be fundamentally improved, or maybe even reversed, if we took a similar approach a radical dietary shift plus a much deeper understanding, through testing, of our own unique metabolic responses?

Speaker 3: 18:05

Makes you think. Doesn't it about applying that root cause, thinking much more broadly in health?

Speaker 2: 18:09

Really makes you think about the power of getting to the bottom of things. Thanks for diving deep with us today.

Speaker 3: 18:14

My pleasure.

Speaker 1: 18:19

Thanks for tuning into the Health Pulse. If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. For more health insights and diagnostics, visit us online at wwwquicklabmobilecom. No-transcript.