LowCarbUSA Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In a recent LowCarbUSA®, hosts Doug Reynolds, MHP and Pam Devine, MHP spoke with Dr. Jeremiah Eisenschenk and Dr. Angie Ausban, two prominent practitioners from the Brainerd Lakes area in Minnesota, about the upcoming LowCarbUSA® Metabolic Health Conference in Brainerd Lakes. This one-day event, scheduled for September 21, aims to unite healthcare professionals and the public around the importance of metabolic health.

Dr. Eisenschenk, a board-certified Family and Obesity Medicine physician, shared his journey into metabolic health, which began after attending a transformative lecture in 2016. Since then, he has co-founded the Metabolic Health Conference in Brainerd Lakes and Essentia Health – Brainerd Weight Management Department, bringing his expertise to both the hospital and community settings. "I saw some pretty impactful results, even in six months," he noted, reflecting on the positive changes in his patients’ health through carbohydrate reduction approaches.

Dr. Ausban, who has a background in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, recounted her own evolution in understanding obesity and metabolic health. After co-founding the CentraCare Medical Weight Management program, she became certified in Obesity Medicine and later joined CRMC as the Medical Director of the Metabolic Health and Medical Weight Management Program. "It's not just obesity and diabetes; it's everything—heart disease, stroke, dementia," she emphasized, underscoring the widespread impact of insulin resistance.

The one-day event is open to the public, but technical enough to also offer optional CME opportunities for healthcare professionals, carbohydrate reduction meals, and local vendors, fostering a collaborative environment between the community to address the growing metabolic health crisis. 

The symposium will feature a diverse lineup of expert speakers, including:

• Robert Cywes, MD, PhD
• Gurpreet Padda, MD, MHP, MBA
• Mark Cucuzzella, MD, FAAFP, MHP
• Vera Tarman, MD
• Jeremiah Eisenschenk, MD
• Angelina Ausban, MD
• Shawn Roberts, MD.

This event is unique for the Brainerd Lakes area, as four health systems have come together to support this initiative—a rare collaboration in today’s competitive healthcare landscape. Dr. Eisenschenk highlighted the importance of this unity, saying, "If we can coalesce for this greater mission... any part of America, any part of the world, can do this."

In addition to the symposium, a charity golf event was going to be organized by Dr. Ausban’s husband, Kevin Smith, but will now be postponed and take place next spring to raise funds for the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners and the local Boys and Girls Club. Dr. Ausban invited attendees to participate, adding, "We are super excited about this event."

The upcoming symposium promises to be an inspiring and educational gathering, providing healthcare professionals and the public with the tools and knowledge to improve metabolic health and, ultimately, the quality of life for many.

Learn more and register here.

This podcast episode offers just a preview of the comprehensive, science-backed health insights Dr. Roshani Sanghani will share at the 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health, August 15-18. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and interact with leading experts in metabolic health. This year’s symposium will feature a full day, Thursday, August 15th, dedicated to exploring the connection between mental health and metabolic disease.

Endocrinologist Dr. Roshani Sanghani recently sat down with Doug Reynolds for a compelling podcast interview, discussing her innovative approach to diabetes management and her upcoming participation in the LowCarbUSA 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health from August 15-18. Dr. Roshani, who has become a leading voice in the field of endocrinology, shares her profound journey and introduces her new book, Turn around Diabetes: The Step-by-Step Guide to Navigate Type 2 (and Type 1) Diabetes with Less Medication.

A Transformative Approach to Endocrinology

Dr. Roshani’s medical career began in Mumbai, India, where she completed her medical degree before moving to the United States. She is board-certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. Her practice evolved significantly during the pandemic, transitioning to a 100% virtual model, which she continues to implement successfully.

“I've always been interested in the mind-body connection,” she explains. “Endocrinology became a natural space for me because hormones directly link our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Helping that system stay in balance through mindfulness, lifestyle changes, and medication when needed became my passion.”

Turning Diabetes Management on Its Head

Her shift towards a lifestyle-first practice was catalyzed by a patient in Mumbai who was struggling with uncontrolled diabetes. “This patient was labeled non-compliant because he refused insulin. Instead of ending the relationship, I suggested he reduce his carbohydrate intake. A year later, he was well-managed with just one tablet,” she recounts. This experience ignited her journey toward emphasizing lifestyle changes over medication.

Her approach focuses on empowering patients through motivational interviewing, a technique that encourages patients to discover their own motivations for change. “Patients come to us because they want to get better, not stay sick. Motivational interviewing flips the model from compliance to empowerment, helping patients make sustainable changes,” she says.

An Advocate for Behavioral Change

Dr. Roshani's upcoming book, "Turn Around Diabetes," explores the behavioral aspects of managing diabetes. She emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological barriers and equipping patients with strategies to overcome them. “This book is meant to be a companion for anyone with diabetes, aiming to prevent diabetes, or seeking a healthier lifestyle. It’s about overcoming obstacles in nutrition, sleep, stress management, and exercise,” she explains.

Using the analogy of a “lifestyle car,” she describes how nutrition, sleep, stress management, and exercise are the four wheels that keep us moving forward. “Life is dynamic, and our journey will have its ups and downs. It’s about continuous adaptation and navigating through challenges,” she notes.

Joining Forces with LowCarbUSA

Dr. Roshani is thrilled to be a speaker at the upcoming LowCarbUSA Symposium. “I’m excited to meet everyone in person and share insights on how behavioral change can significantly impact diabetes management,” she says. Her talk promises to be a highlight, given her reputation for delivering engaging and informative presentations. Doug praised her contributions, noting, “One of the best talks we’ve had was by Dr. Roshani. Her ability to prepare engaging content and provide deep insights is unmatched. We’re looking forward to her talk next month.”

Listen to the full podcast interview to gain deeper insights into her approach and philosophy. Her new book, "Turn Around Diabetes," will be available at the LowCarbUSA Symposium, providing attendees with practical strategies to navigate diabetes with less medication.

In a compelling LowCarbUSA® podcast interview with host Doug Reynolds, Dr. Roshani Sanghani shares her multifaceted approach to managing a wide range of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, thyroid issues, hormone imbalances, weight management, and other metabolic health conditions.

An American board-certified endocrinologist, Dr. Sanghani brings 15 years of clinical experience to the table, alongside her own personal journey as a patient of hypothyroidism and pre-diabetes. This personal touch allows her a deep understanding of the struggles many patients face, including medication's side effects and escalating doses. Her philosophy? The true "magic pill" is lifestyle change.  Her medical journey is as layered as her approach to healthcare. She grew up between Chicago and Mumbai, completing her medical training in both cities. Her career took a transformative turn when she encountered a type 2 diabetes patient with a dangerously high HbA1c level who refused insulin.

"In a patient compliance model, the doctor holds the power and tells the patient what to do,” she told Doug. “I've worked to flip that to a patient empowerment model, where my knowledge as a doctor can empower the patient to decide what they want to do for themselves."  To bolster her approach, Dr. Sanghani became a certified diabetes educator in the U.S., subsequently launching culturally relevant diabetes education classes in Mumbai. "I want to help you make lifestyle changes to reduce your medication,” she emphasized.

One of her key strategies is addressing the nutritional imbalances many patients face, particularly in India, where vegetarianism is culturally prevalent. "One of the biggest challenges we have is protein deficiency," she noted. To tackle this and other chronic conditions more effectively, she shifted from "one-off" doctor visits to a model of ongoing, three-to-six-month coaching programs.

She also calls attention to broader challenges in healthcare, particularly in India, criticizing a traditional, reactive model that is ill-suited for lifestyle-induced chronic diseases.  While discussing the evolving attitudes toward a lifestyle-based approach to healthcare, she admitted her own evolving perspective. "I've sat across from patients probably until 2014, till my eyes opened. I used to convince patients they needed insulin therapy for progressive type 2 diabetes because I just didn't know better."  She is forthright about the complexities of behavior change, calling it a piece that's often missing in healthcare. "Behavior change is extremely complex.  So I took The SMHP™ training to be part of this community and am also working aggressively on coaching techniques."

In summary, this interview provides a captivating look at a patient-centered, lifestyle-focused approach to healthcare. It presents a compelling case for a paradigm shift—one that empowers patients rather than merely prescribing to them. This podcast is a must-listen for those interested in sustainable healthcare solutions that tackle root causes instead of solely treating symptoms.

You can find her on Instagram @roshanisanghani and through her website.

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.

Host Doug Reynolds welcomes Shashikant Iyengar and Anup Singh to the podcast to discuss their contributions to metabolic health in India, and the upcoming Metabolic Health India Conference slated to take place October 27-29, 2023.  Metabolic Health India will be available for live streaming across the globe.  This resource is being made available at no charge.

Shashikant, who is the creator of the Metabolic Health India, was the first Metabolic Health Practitioner accredited by the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners in India. Singh is the founder and CTO of the dLife.in Indian Diabetes Community, and he is working with Iyengar on the organization of this conference.

Iyengar talks about his long career in the pharmaceutical industry before devoting his primary focus to metabolic health and therapeutic carbohydrate reduction. After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2015, he went in search of alternative ways to manage the condition. That led him to low-carb, high-fat diets. With guidance from Singh, he saw his HbA1c levels drop from 7.2 to 5.2 in a month. Impressed with the results and armed with multiple certifications, he transitioned into health coaching in November 2022.

Anup Singh, also a Type 2 diabetic, went a different route, adopting a 100 grams per day carb limit. Though he faced skepticism from the medical community, his HbA1c dropped to 5.0 in May 2011, underscoring the effectiveness of his approach. He emphasized that the challenges of adopting a low-carb diet in India are cultural, given the heavy reliance on carbohydrates in the traditional diet.

Both guests discussed the cultural difficulties of implementing low-carb or keto diets in India. Iyengar pointed out that different Indian regions have unique dietary patterns, making it complicated to offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Anup stressed that while the western model of low-carb is difficult to implement in India, he has found success in adapting the approach to suit Indian palates.

The podcast ended with a discussion of the upcoming Metabolic Health India Conference, which aims to bring more awareness and resources to the low-carb community in India. Both guests are enthusiastic about their roles in helping people navigate metabolic health challenges in India and look forward to sharing their experiences at the upcoming conference.

Tune in for a compelling episode of the LowCarbUSA podcast featuring guest Dr. Laura Buchanan, a board-certified family medicine physician who graduated valedictorian from the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Buchanan recently completed her family medicine residency at Wake Forest in 2022 and now collaborates with Dr. Tro Kalayjian at Dr. Tro’s Medical Weight Loss and Direct Primary Care. Both serve on the board of directors at the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (The SMHP™).

In this episode, host Doug Reynolds and Dr. Buchanan explore the intriguing intersections of longevity, metabolic health, lifestyle changes, and chronic disease management. she offers her unique perspective on lifestyle modification as a first-line standard of care, emphasizing her dual role as a physician: promoting prevention and practicing medicine.

This conversation provides invaluable insights into the real-world effectiveness and scientific underpinnings of low-carbohydrate lifestyles.

Dr. Buchanan shares critical insights based on her clinical and research experience, stating, "The standard dietary advice has failed us. It's time for a shift in the paradigm." She highlights the transformative outcomes she has witnessed in her patients, adding, "When people understand the 'why' behind nutritional changes, their adherence and success skyrocket." Reynolds complements this perspective by saying, "I've seen countless lives changed, including my own, by just understanding the right way to eat."

Dr. Buchanan discusses the advancements and contributions of the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners in the field of evidence-based medicine. She highlights the focus on type 1 diabetes in the upcoming 2024 Boca Symposium for Metabolic Health and the organization's efforts to secure ACCME accreditation, which will make it easier for other conferences to earn credits and attract more attendees.

Additionally, she talks about the forthcoming Journal of Metabolic Health, aimed at expediting the dissemination of new research in the areas of ketosis and carbohydrate reduction. She mentions mentoring programs designed to guide people through the process of submitting research papers and case studies.

She also reflects on her experiences and frustrations in conventional medicine settings, particularly the resistance to low-carb interventions and dietary advice. She underscores the lack of data supporting conventional beliefs that low-carb or ketogenic diets are harmful, pointing out their efficacy in treating conditions like eating disorders and metabolic diseases.

Laura notes a growing interest in metabolic health within the medical community, suggesting that change is happening, albeit slowly. She is also developing a new four-week course focused on diabetes to educate the public about the disease's prevalence and dangers, viewing these educational programs as essential steps toward combating widespread issues like diabetes and insulin resistance.

Dr. Bret Scher joins host Doug Reynolds on the LowCarbUSA® podcast to discuss his role as the director of Metabolic Mind.  A board-certified cardiologist, lipidologist, and therapeutic ketogenic diet expert, Bret has over 20 years of experience as a preventive cardiologist and served as the medical director for Diet Doctor for over three years.

Metabolic Mind was founded by Roblox CEO David Baszucki and his wife, author Jan Ellison Baszucki, after their son Matthew recovered from a severe bipolar disorder using ketogenic metabolic therapy.  “They were having a really hard time getting Matthew treated in a way that not only controlled the symptoms, but gave him his life back,” Bret recounts. “There was a point where he was in and out of inpatient treatment facilities and he actually checked himself out and hitchhiked from Oregon down to California. He was homeless, giving away all his possessions, and living behind a dumpster.  These are the stories that often end tragically, but the Baszucki’s were fortunate enough to connect with Dr. Chris Palmer, who was able to get Matt started on a ketogenic diet and that's what really turned things around.”  Matthew has been able to slowly get weaned off his medications, and is now living a normal life.  He has completed college and is currently employed full-time in the tech industry. As he continues to gradually reduce his medication dosage, he shows no signs of the debilitating symptoms—mania, depression, or anxiety—that once afflicted him.  You can read Jan Baszucki’s account of the family journey here.

Bret discusses the growing momentum in the field of metabolic psychiatry. He shares that research is underway, with five different trials being funded by Metabolic Mind, and how the psychiatric community has overwhelmingly welcomed these advances.  “Our brain needs energy, just like the rest of our body needs energy. And just like our body can be insulin resistant, and not be able to use glucose for energy, the same can happen in our brains,” he explains.  Despite the advancements, Bret highlights that there are still physicians with misconceptions about ketogenic diets, often fueled by mainstream media.  “This concern of keto diet equals fat equals high LDL and heart attack just needs to disappear, because that is purely false,” he states, citing data from Dr. Shivani Sethi and Dr. Ian Campbell that debunks this notion.

Bret discusses the complex science behind how ketosis can benefit the brain. He points out that ketones can serve as alternative fuel sources to significantly improve brain function, reduce neuroinflammation, and balance neurotransmitters.  He emphasizes the critical role of education, pointing out that the knowledge of metabolic therapies is often missing from medical schools and residencies, creating a barrier for wider adoption. He hopes to disseminate this information to both clinicians and the public.

Later in the interview Bret draws an analogy between the growing acceptance of the keto diet for type 2 diabetes and the growing interest in metabolic psychiatry.  “That's how we start to build this movement to really just help more people, right. That's the ultimate goal. We want more people being treated in this fashion to help them get their lives back,” he concludes, calling for collective efforts to make a lasting impact.

Doug and Bret conclude the interview with a discussion about plans to organize a special focus day for Metabolic Health in San Diego on metabolic therapies for mental illnesses at a future Symposium for Metabolic Health.

Dr. Chris Knobbe joins host Doug Reynolds on the LowCarbUSA® podcast to discuss his work researching the impacts of Westernized diets and highly polyunsaturated vegetable oils on health. Dr. Knobbe, an internationally recognized expert on diet and health, will deliver a presentation titled “Omega-6 Apocalypse: Vegetable Oils, Overweight, and Chronic Disease – What’s the Evidence?” at the 8th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health held August 17-20, 2023.

In this engaging interview, Dr. Knobbe talks with Doug about the seed oils and other dietary culprits behind the growing epidemic of obesity and metabolic disease. He discusses his research linking processed foods and vegetable oils to not only widespread chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancers, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and autoimmune diseases, but also age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 50, globally.

If you're interested in the intersection of diet and disease, or simply want to better understand the true impact of your food choices, this episode is not to be missed. Dr. Knobbe dissects the potentially catastrophic effects of modern dietary habits and offers insightful perspectives that could change the way we view our plates – and our health – forever.

Dr. Knobbe discusses the deleterious effects of seed oils, particularly their contribution to chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and more. He argues that while refined sugars and flours are problematic, he is especially concerned with the role of seed oils in the worsening health statistics we’re seeing.

Doug pushes back on Chris’s view that seed oils may have an even bigger role in our metabolic health crisis than even sugar and other processed carbohydrates, and a fascinating discussion ensues.

Paul Kolodzik, MD joins host Doug Reynolds on the LowCarbUSA® podcast to talk about his new book, The Continuous Glucose Monitor Revolution for Nondiabetics: Lose Weight, Look Great, and Live Longer with Continuous Glucose Monitoring (https://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Glucose-Monitor-Revolution-Monitoring-ebook/dp/B0C4MP8MJN/&tag=lcu-20/). Dr. Kolodzik is a double board-certified emergency and metabolic-health physician with 30 years of experience. During his 25 years in emergency medicine he treated victims of motor vehicle accidents, shootings and overdoses, but he was always astonished by the number of patients whose hospitalization was due to conditions related to vascular issues and obesity.  He believes a large percentage of these conditions are preventable, but only if patients receive the necessary information and treatment in time.  “Preventative health can address the majority of disease,” he said, “and it often boils down to two things: blood sugars being too high, and being overweight.”

Five years ago, Dr. Kolodzik opened a private practice, Metabolic MD, based in Ohio, to help patients with preventative measures that can help them improve their metabolic health and achieve sustainable weight loss.  As a private-practice metabolic MD, Dr. Kolodzik has used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to help thousands of patients lose weight and prevent and reverse disease. The success he’s seen with patients in his practice inspired him to write The Continuous Glucose Monitoring Revolution. “The device (CGM) itself can be life changing,” said Dr. Kolodzik. “After you eat that cake, and see the spike in blood glucose, you can never unsee it.”  He and his team are able to monitor patient data remotely and in real time. Just two weeks of data from a CGM can provide enough valuable information to develop a comprehensive plan that can lead patients to sustained weight loss and improved metabolic health, including improvements in a1C and lipid levels.  “Once a patient experiences using a CGM, they get a great sense about what is going on with their physiology,” he says “The data they see as a result of what they put in their mouth is amazing. A light bulb goes off in their head – they understand for the first time what's going on with their body and why they’re overweight, and why diabetes runs in their family, and it provides them with the basis for intervention – people get religion real quick looking at this data.”

Dr. Kolodzik stressed that while CGMs have been used most often by diabetes patients who use insulin, the value to those who have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes can be enormous. He suggested patients look for a metabolic health provider with the expertise to guide them through the entire process. In the United States and many other countries, a prescription is required to obtain a CGM, so the provider can help with that as well (https://thesmhp.org/directory/).

Easiest place to find the book is on Amazon and it will be out on Audible any day now.

Babs, who is also known as “The Healthy Cheese Lady”  is currently writing a book about healthy cheeses, and she spends much of her time educating people about the nutritional benefits cheeses can provide. She is determined to let people know that for far too long we have been misinformed and lied to by so-called nutritional and medical experts who told us that saturated fat has no place in a healthy diet and to avoid eating cheese.  “The guidelines for a healthy diet have been killing us since the late 70’s,” said Babs, who has used her anger to motivate her to spread her message to as many people as possible.

She discusses with Doug the differences between industrial cheeses and farmstead cheeses, and some of the ways a consumer can determine which cheeses are best for their health.   Babs talks about her Texas Cheese Tour, a journey she wrote about after traveling across the state in 2012 and 2013 to find out why and how great cheese is made. The tour included interviews with chefs, cheese store owners, dairy farmers, restaurant owners, marketing specialists, professional cheesemakers, and one home cheesemaker. During her tour, Babs learned interesting behind-the-scenes details about animals, cheese nutrition, and the cheesemaking process. 

In addition to working on her book about healthy cheeses (no publication date has yet been announced), Babs is currently gearing up for a Keto Cheese Diet she plans to launch via Zoom in February (check her Facebook page for details).