Rethinking Diabetes with Gary Taubes

Gary Taubes is an investigative science and health journalist. He began writing and reporting on science and medicine for Discover magazine in 1982. As a free-lance journalist, he’s written for The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Science, Nature, the British Medical Journal, and a host of other publications. He is the author of The Case for Keto (2020),The Case Against Sugar (2016), Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It (2011) and Good Calories, Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet, Weight Control and Disease (2007), published as The Diet Delusion in the UK. Taubes is the recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Award in Health Policy Research, and has won numerous other awards for his journalism. These include the International Health Reporting Award from the Pan American Health Organization and the National Association of Science Writers Science in Society Journalism Award. (He was the first print journalist to win this award three times.) His journalism has been included in numerous Best of anthologies, and his books have been translated into two dozen languages. Taubes was also co-founder and president of the non-profit Nutrition Science Initiative (NuSI.org).

Gary Taubes has focused his reporting on controversial science and, specifically, the confluence of research in nutrition, obesity, chronic disease and public health policy. He is also the author of Nobel Dreams (1987), and Bad Science (1993). Taubes studied applied physics at Harvard as an undergraduate and has an M.S. degree in engineering from Stanford University (1978) and in journalism from Columbia University (1981). He lives in Oakland, California with his wife and two sons.













Disclaimer: Nothing in this video is Medical Advice. Dr. Berry does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical conditions online; instead, he helps people better understand their health and ways to avoid health problems and promote wellbeing. Make sure you are working with YOUR provider to monitor your health and medications. These posts and videos are not designed to, and do not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or to any other individual. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from purchases

[anneh]

Gary Taubes is a brilliant writer and has helped change my life! I read The Case for Keto when it came out and it got me on this ketovore path to finding Dr Barry and others in this space. I’m so grateful for the health and healing I’ve experienced from listening to both of you. Thank you!

[marilynroper]

I love that Prof Noakes says that when a diabetic patient is not offered the dietary solution — it is malpractice.

[timothybryan]

At its worst, my fasting blood sugar was 308. My doctor was going to prescribe a Sulfonaurea and insulin. I challenged her back with the only things that really help is diet, exercise and weight loss. She asked me why I haven’t don that. That stung. We agreed to come back in 3 months to re-evaluate. I became a KETO monk warrior. When I returned (KETO and intermittent fasting) my A1c was 5. my fasting blood sugar was about 90. She wasn’t happy with my cholesterol, but was thrilled with my results. I have gone from 274 pounds (in my birthday suit) to 196 today.

[jamesnelson]

His article from 2002 changed things for me. After many years of keto I went carnivore in March 2023, My fasting insulin in May was 10, in August it was 5 and in November it was 3. My fasting glucose has been 70 since May. I am seventy three, it is never too late to regain your health.

[shirley]

My old Dr came unhinged when I stopped taking my metformin and stopped following the diabetic diet. My A1C dropped from 7.5 to 6.8 improved, and she said continue what you're doing. My last A1C in Oct was 6.2. I'm eating no carbs and starting the carnivore diet 100% tomorrow. At 1pm tomorrow, my fast will be at 44 hrs. I've been doing 85-90% carnivore. Time to get on the boat. Can't wait for my next blood work.

[christinaperez]

I was widowed with three small children when i was 30. My husband was 33 and died of type 1 devastating the advice they give. I have dedicated myself to the study of all things metabolic since

[sandieweatherup]

I'm only 1/3 through this and just want to cry. This is such an important discussion. My sister's type 1 diabetic husband passed away at 36 years old in 1994. He had a heart attack @ 2am while in bed. He would have loved hearing this info. Please, doctors, don't ever stop teaching and speaking about this.

[Gail-gfkm]

I was one of those deluded individuals who followed the ADA recommendations like a religion for 40 years. Every year I was fatter, sicker, and poorer than the year before. Keto has been a miracle for me.

[jeffreyelliott]

Excellent interview..I’m a 60 yr old type 2 6 weeks into the carnivore lifestyle.I purchased a CGM and by the 5th week I had to actually stop insulin injections altogether..sometimes as much as 4-5 shots a day..done with it after 12 years.Sincere 🙏 thank you.

[AncientLemomTree]

I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The doctors require you to eat a minimum of 170g of carbs a day. If your body can’t tolerate that amount distributed among each meal/ snack then you must be put on insulin. Which is outrageous. I was doing keto prior 3 months prior to pregnancy and continued low carb-ish before I got diagnosed. I was only 5lb overweight and exercise regularly. I told them I would not be eating that many carbs. I ate an average of around 90 a day and focused on eating nutrient dense foods. Because of this, I had a very good, easy pregnancy, much better than my first where I was very swollen and achey. The doctors will fear monger you into believing your baby needs that many carbs. And the women in GD support forums on FB perpetuate that notion, as well as other horrible advice. My baby was born 3 weeks ago as healthy as can be.

[eringo-bragh]

I had exactly this discussion with an ADA dietician I was handed off to when my A1C came back as 10.1; I told her that it didn't make sense to me to eat carbs at all my meals (and snacks) if that was causing my diabetes in the first place.

[lorensims]

It was Dr. Gary Taubes who told me about the historical background of a meat-only diet and he convinced me to get as far away from sugar as I can.

[gordonredwood]

I was doing carnivore for a couple of years before I saw Gary Taubes on Joe Rogan. I've read his books and believe he has done more for the health of more people than virtually anyone. Now there is a lot of good info but when he started there was none. He put himself out there and took the blows. Bravo.

[enidcronin]

Hi Dr Berry I went keto/ low carb over 2years ago. I was a type 2 diabetic on insulin with a Hba1c of 9 ( before insulin it was 12) when I started. My last Hba1c was 5.5 off all medication. I lost 133lbs of weight but for the last 4months my weight loss has stalled although I am still obese. My Blood sugars remained normal but I have just started carnivore. Before starting I spent time checking the research and the pitfalls and prepped my larder and mindset. I have 30lbs to lose which I am confident I will do. I was found a diabetic cookbook on the free second-hand bookshelf in a store which had recipes to make doughnuts and cakes I tore it up and sent it to recycling so it was taken out of circulation the carb count was phenomenal. Here's to a great 2024 for everyone.

[TexasMom]

Just went to a funeral today for 51 year old lady. She was blind and obese type 2 . Way too young on dialysis. Keep informing the public ❤

[christineandmeat]

My doctor preaches the mediteranean diet to me in order to get me to discontinue meat-centered lifestyle, explaining the importance of including lots of vegetables, grains, etc. He doesn't realize that I am from the region, born and raised there and I still visit my family regularly who eat lots of fish, pork, goat, lamb, some beef, seafood, butter, cured hams, eggs, olive oil, with sides of light vegetables - and only small amounts of heavier carbs that are prepared ancestrally. Most doctors only repeat the echo chamber.

[rosemartiify]

I have diabetes and I wish I had all this information 20+ years ago. I stopped taking insulin without my doctors permission and my A1C did go down but still high, it's now 8.2 . I've been making a lot of changes, dropped 30 pounds.

[azsbum]

Gary Taubes is my hero. Every dietitian should be mandated to read "Good Calories, Bad Calories" before any coursework begins. I'm glad to hear people discussing this phenomenon where by doctors no longer believe what they see, and instead believe what they read in weak, error-prone epidemiology studies. This is why doctors provide so little value to their patients anymore.

[herbalannie]

Wow, wow, wow! This is the kind of indepth conversation my intellect craves. History, scientific studies, with a little bit of politics thrown in for good measure. Really enjoyed hearing Gary tell his story and his nonjudgemental way of speaking. As always thank you Dr. Berry for all you do!

[victoriashort]

Just want to let you both know that your efforts are valuable and appreciated. I'm a newly retired RN, disenchanted with the system (tired of caring for diabetics losing their toes and legs), who has metabolic syndrome. Watched this video and threw away the chocolates and cake. You both are important; you matter; you are making a difference. Thank you.