Dr. David Unwin: Drug-Free Remission of Cardiometabolic Disease; Diet, Behavioural Change, and Ultra-Processed Food Addiction

Dr David Unwin started a grass-roots approach to reversing cardiometabolic disease, in particular type-2 diabetes, in his clinical practice that has resulted in the publication of clinical evidence documenting patient outcomes and spurred a global movement that is transforming people's lives. In this remarkable conversation he shares his story, insights from the work he is doing, and new concepts around ultra-processed food addiction.   Guest:  Dr. David Unwin   About our guest:  Dr David Unwin is an award-winning GP known for pioneering the low-carb approach in the UK. He is the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) national champion for collaborative care and support planning in obesity and diabetes. He also won the NHS Innovator of the Year Award 2016 for his research into diet and lifestyle interventions. He has worked at Norwood Surgery in Southport since 1986 as a family doctor. To date, he has helped 141 patients achieve drug free, type 2 diabetes remission (achieving a remission rate of 51 per cent).   Guest websites and links: https://phcuk.org/ https://phcuk.org/sugar/ https://courses.bslm.org.uk/product?catalog=1693826133zBxc8 Selection of our guest's publications: Unwin J, Delon C, Giæver H, Kennedy C, Painschab M, Sandin F, Poulsen CS, Wiss DA. Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up. Front Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 14;16:1556988. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556988. PMID: 40357512; PMCID: PMC12067479. Unwin D, Delon C, Unwin J, Tobin S, Taylor R. What predicts drug-free type 2 diabetes remission? Insights from an 8-year general practice service evaluation of a lower carbohydrate diet with weight loss. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2023 Jan 2;6(1):46-55. Unwin D, Unwin J, Crocombe D, Delon C, Guess N, Wong C. Renal function in patients following a low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes: a review of the literature and analysis of routine clinical data from a primary care service over 7 years. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2021 Oct 1;28(5):469-479. Brown A, McArdle P, Taplin J, Unwin D, Unwin J, Deakin T, Wheatley S, Murdoch C, Malhotra A, Mellor D. Dietary strategies for remission of type 2 diabetes: A narrative review. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2022 Feb;35(1):165-178. Unwin D, Khalid AA, Unwin J, Crocombe D, Delon C, Martyn K, Golubic R, Ray S. Insights from a general practice service evaluation supporting a lower carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: a secondary analysis of routine clinic data including HbA1c, weight and prescribing over 6 years. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2020 Nov 2;3(2):285-294. McAuliffe S, Unwin D, Bradfield J, Ray S, Martyn K. Bridging the gap between science-led research and evaluation of clinical practice: the role of service innovation audits and case studies. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2021 Feb 16;4(1):350-351.