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Can a low-carb revolution led by GPs help YOU lose weight and beat type 2 diabetes?

'Exciting' to see patients succeed

Nazir was one of the first patients to take advantage of a groundbreaking diabetes initiative, The Lifestyle Club (TLC), an online programme that supports patients in their own homes, after being referred by his GP.

It is one of several new ‘grassroots’ low-carb schemes being used by GPs across the country to try to help type 2 diabetes patients — and hopefully start to turn the tide on a modern epidemic that affects at least 4.8million Britons; one in 14 of us.

‘This programme has been a huge success and we’ve seen many patients lose weight and reduce their blood sugar levels,’ says Nazir’s GP, Dr Karen Johnson from the Poplar Grove surgery in Aylesbury. ‘It’s exciting to watch our patients blossoming in this way.

Patients attend eight 90-minute online weekly sessions in groups of 12 via Zoom. There is also a follow-up online support group available once the course ends.

At the heart of the programme is a lowcarb approach, aimed at reducing blood sugar: chronically raised blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels over time, leading to serious illnesses.

A low-carb approach encourages eating meat, eggs and fish as well as abundant quantities of leafy green vegetables, plus nuts and some fruit and full-fat dairy, including cheese, milk and cream. Foods to avoid include sugary treats such as biscuits and sugary drinks — but also those that are high in carbs, including breakfast cereal, bread, pasta, potato, rice and couscous, because of how they can affect blood sugar levels.

GPs can refer any patient with type 2 diabetes or classed as prediabetic (where blood sugar levels are higher than normal) to TLC.

Dr Johnson began referring patients in October 2021 after learning about it from a GP at another practice. More than 700 patients across England have so far attended TLC courses used by 44 GP surgeries. This follows a 2021 pilot scheme in which 106 participants lost an average of 4.5kg (10lb) in three months, with significant reductions in their blood sugar levels.

I’m so pleased with this piece It even covers the insulin causes sodium retention thing This is how carby foods put blood pressure up