Nepal's First Low-Carb Doctor Faces Pushback From Authorities: Ep109

In a revealing LowCarbUSA podcast interview with host Doug Reynolds, Dr. Diljan Mansoor shares the inspiring yet challenging journey that led him to become an advocate for low-carb diets as a treatment for metabolic illnesses. Dr. Mansoor, who is also known as Dr. Kurt, is an internal medicine doctor who is Nepal's first low carb practitioner. His journey into low-carb nutrition was deeply personal and profoundly influenced by his father's medical struggles, which included type 2 diabetes and kidney damage. "My dad was hypertensive and diabetic, and despite everything I learned in med school, I couldn't control his hyperglycemia," he said. "There was a complication and I lost my dad." This tragic loss left him questioning the medical practices he'd been taught and subsequently sparked his interest in alternative approaches to treating conditions like diabetes and hypertension. His search led him to discover low-carb community experts, including Dr. Jason Fung. "I started digging into this low carb community, and I decided in my post-graduation I'm going to work as a low-carb doctor," he said. Challenging the conventional wisdom around diabetes treatment, Dr. Mansoor focused on preventative measures to stop diabetes from progressing into kidney disease. Dr. Mansoor's clinic in Kathmandu soon boasted more than 6,000 patients benefiting from a low-carb, high-fat diet approach. "Things were beyond my imagination," he said. "I was tapering them off medication, taking them off medication, it was like a miracle for me." His clinic specialized in group counseling sessions for patients suffering from metabolic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions associated with poor dietary habits. The setting not only allowed him to reach and educate more patients simultaneously but also fostered a sense of community among those struggling with similar health issues. However, his non-conventional approach attracted scrutiny from regulatory authorities. They forced the clinic to shut down for three months, citing the absence of scientific papers supporting the low-carb, high-fat diet that he advocated. "They asked me to do counseling one on one. That's what they want me to do," he said. He finally reopened his clinic, and he now conducts one-on-one sessions, still committed to helping metabolically ill patients improve their health through dietary intervention, albeit at a smaller scale. Despite these limitations, his dedication to his patients and his belief in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in medicine remain steadfast. Doug took this opportunity to ask Dr. Mansoor if there was anything that can be done to help him as he encounters resistance from authorities in his country. Dr. Mansoor stressed that he will continue to help as many people as he can within the constraints that have been placed on him. He is hopeful for the future, believing that increasing evidence will continue to tip the scales in favor of low-carb diets and metabolic health. "Maybe this is new for my country, but gradually people are going to understand what is happening," he said. The interview serves as an eye-opening journey through the complexities medical practitioners face around the world when advocating alternative health practices.