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I listened to this book on Audible. I must say if I had to actually “read” it that probably wouldn’t have happened. Audible makes reading a book easy. I absolutely know I am exposed to far more books because of it. I like to put books on when I’m cooking and I also like to just sit down and listen with a pen and notepad and take notes while I’m listening.
Here’s a great deal to read this book for free.
When I first started reading Rethinking Diabetes by Gary Taubes, I didn’t know how much I didn’t understand about diabetes. I thought it was just about high blood sugar and maybe eating less sugar and carbs. But this book opened my eyes to so much more. It made me think differently about what causes diabetes and why and how we treat it.
The author, Gary Taubes, is a famous science journalist and author of Good Calories, Bad Calories and The Case Against Sugar, he continues his investigation into the root causes of chronic disease in Rethinking Diabetes. In this latest work, Taubes takes a hard, scientific evidence-driven look at diabetes and talks a lot about how people, scientists, doctors, and even the government have made mistakes in how they think about food and health. For example, he explains that a long time ago, people thought eating fat was really bad for you, so they told everyone to eat less fat and more carbs, like bread and pasta and all those low fat Snackwell’s products. Well, take a big guess what happened with that? That thinking resulted in an explosive rise in diabetes over the last fifty years! The United States is almost half diabetic or pre-diabetic. There are many people walking around today that don’t know they even have diabetes! That is not good. And the health of those with diabetes is expected to continue to deteriorate greatly over time, with all the financial, physical, and psychological burdens. I really do think Diabetes is worse than cancer! In Rethinking Diabetes, Mr.Taubes talks about how, in the very beginning of diabetes treatment, it was even thought to give patients MORE sugar! But this actually made things worse of course for a lot of people with diabetes because carbs make your blood sugar go up. That was shocking to me! How could they even think that would be beneficial?
I think that was actually my favorite part of the book. I thought hearing about the early discoveries of diabetes and the ways it was diagnosed and treated was particularly interesting. There was one way that stood out to me, but I’m not going to spoil it for you! You have to read the book to find out! Look for the part of the book where he talks about how diabetes was diagnosed in the 1800’s. But Mr. Taubes highlights this to illustrate the evolution of diabetes diagnosis and the understanding of its symptoms over time.
One of the other most interesting parts of the book is when Mr. Taubes talks about insulin. Insulin is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar, and it’s been a lifesaver for many people. I’ve always wondered about this, how does giving someone with too much insulin, more insulin even work? But he explains that insulin isn’t really fixing the problem—it’s just helping manage it. The real problem, he says, is how our bodies react to too many carbs. That’s why he talks a lot about low-carb diets as a better solution.
And a major part of that solution is Virta Health. He mentions Virta Health quite a few times and the pioneering efforts being made by this company as a leading example of how carbohydrate restriction can effectively be used to manage and potentially reverse type 2 diabetes. Mr. Taubes highlights Virta Health's approach, which focuses on individualized nutritional guidance to achieve significant improvements in blood sugar control and reduce dependency on medication. Taubes talks about the importance of dietary interventions, noting that they challenge traditional diabetes treatments that primarily rely on medication. By featuring Virta Health's work, Mr. Taubes emphasizes the potential of dietary strategies in transforming diabetes care and improving patients results. It was heartwarming to see that the book is dedicated to one of Virta Health’s physicians, Dr. Sarah Hallberg. Dr. Hallberg is now deceased after losing her battle with cancer, but she was passionate in her belief of all the benefits of a ketogenic diet in the treatment of diabetes and for better health.
Mr. Taubes also takes time to explain why science can sometimes get things wrong. He shows how some studies about food and diabetes weren’t done very well, and yet they influenced the advice we still hear today, like “eat less fat.” He also explains how it’s hard for doctors and scientists to change their minds, even when new information shows there’s a better way.
I liked this part of the book is when he talks about very-low-carb diets, like keto. He explains how they can help people with diabetes not just lose weight but also lower their blood sugar and feel healthier overall. It made me think about how important it is to eat in a way that works for your body, not just follow the latest diet talk that we are inundated with. I think we basically have two choices, eat the foods that will heal and keep us healthy or not. The choice is ours.
Mr. Taubes goes into the historical and scientific context of diabetes treatment. From the first chapter, he critiques the longstanding dietary guidelines that have been promoted for decades. Instead of the typical carbohydrate-heavy recommendations, he focuses on the role of insulin and the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels, making a strong case for the benefits of low-carb, high-fat diets. This was music to my ears ears because it just solidified my belief in the keto diet I’ve been doing for over seven years! I truly believe embracing the idea that reducing carbs gives us better control over our blood sugar levels and SO many other health benefits! Throughout the book, Mr. Taubes focuses on not just how to manage diabetes but also on the broader implications for health. See below!
Another thing Mr. Taubes does really well is explain how diabetes is connected to other problems, like heart disease. He says that doctors need to look at the whole picture, not just focus on one thing like blood sugar. That made a lot of sense to me. By the end of the book, I felt like I had learned so much about how our bodies work and why it’s important to question the advice we’re given. Gary Taubes made me realize that we can’t just rely on old ideas about health, we have to keep learning and looking at the science.
If you or someone you love has diabetes or struggles with their weight, I think this book is really helpful. It’s not just about the problem; it’s about finding better solutions that actually work. After reading it, I feel like I understand diabetes a lot better.
However, Mr. Taubes does not ignore the controversies surrounding ketogenic diets. He acknowledges the mixed opinions in the medical community regarding low-carb diets and emphasizes the necessity of personalized approaches to health. This adds a layer of depth to understanding diabetes. It encourages readers to critically evaluate their health strategies with guidance from healthcare professionals. That’s very important!
The book is not all pro keto, Mr. Taubes presents complex ideas that may require careful consideration about nutrition and physiology. For those new to the topics of diabetes or ketogenic dieting, it could feel overwhelming at times. But the information he presents is very thought-provoking, but I will have to say he can get very sciency and that’s when I tended to zone out.
In summary, "Rethinking Diabetes" by Gary Taubes is more than just a book; it is a call to action for individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers. He urges a reevaluation of dietary guidelines, a shift in medical priorities toward prevention and reversal rather than symptom management, and a broader public discussion about the impact of type 2 diabetes. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a policymaker, or someone personally affected by diabetes, this book will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the disease.
Wishing you good health and happiness,
♥️Denise
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