Dr. David Unwin, MD, is a highly esteemed general practitioner (GP) recognized for his pioneering efforts in introducing and promoting the low-carb diet approach in the United Kingdom. His contributions have been transformative in the field of nutrition, particularly in the realm of low-carb diets, as he has dedicated his career to investigating the potential health benefits of these dietary regimens.
Beginning his career as a NHS General Practitioner in 1986, Dr. Unwin has been a proponent of the low-carb diet since 2012, which he both practices and advocates for in his professional role1.
Online & Socials
- Dr. David Unwin Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowcarbGP
- Public health Collaboration UK Twitter: https://twitter.com/PHCukorg
Significant Impact in the Field of Nutrition
Dr. Unwin’s influence on the understanding and application of low-carb diets has been significant, and his work has garnered high recognition within his field. His dedicated efforts within the areas of patient communication and type 2 diabetes management earned him the title of UK Royal College of General Practitioners expert clinical advisor in 2015.
His innovative approach to treating diabetes patients, which deviated from traditional methods by emphasizing dietary changes, which has resulted in him winning the prestigious NHS Innovator of the Year award in 2016. Dr. Unwin’s practice between 2017 and 2018 made a remarkable achievement by saving £57,000 on drugs for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions. This was achieved by offering patients a dietary alternative to medications, a testament to the potential of dietary intervention in managing chronic diseases.
In 2018, Dr. Unwin was named the ninth most influential general practitioner in the UK by GP magazine Pulse. He also holds a fellowship at the UK Royal College of General Practitioners, where he is a clinical expert in Diabetes, a position he was elected to in 2008.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Unwin is the medical advisor at the popular Low Carb Program. He is dedicated to spreading knowledge about low-carb diets among doctors, dietitians, and nurses, making him a significant player in the movement towards integrating nutritional approaches into mainstream healthcare1.
He has contributed to the scientific community by writing several peer-reviewed papers aimed at strengthening the science behind low-carb diets. These contributions have greatly enhanced the credibility and understanding of low-carb dietary regimens within the broader medical community.
Beyond his role as a GP, Dr. Unwin holds various unpaid, voluntary roles. These include acting as a clinical expert in diabetes for the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK), an ambassador for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes (UK), and an advisor for The Public Health Collaboration, a charity working towards better public health.
Dr. Unwin’s work and influence have significantly impacted the understanding and application of low-carb diets in the management of various health conditions. His commitment to enhancing patient communication, his innovative approach to diabetes management, and his dedication to spreading knowledge about low-carb diets have all made him a key figure in the low-carb diet movement. His pioneering efforts and substantial contributions continue to inspire and inform others in the field of nutrition and beyond.
Discovery of the Low-Carb Approach
Dr. Unwin nearly quit his position as a general practitioner (GP) in 2012, feeling a sense of failure and dissatisfaction due to the deteriorating health of his patients, whom he noted were becoming “sicker and fatter.” His perception shifted when he encountered a patient who had managed to put her type 2 diabetes into remission through a low-carb diet. This patient had stopped taking metformin, a common drug prescribed for type 2 diabetes, and had lost significant weight, thus improving her condition dramatically. This experience shook Dr. Unwin’s belief that type 2 diabetes was a chronic, unalterable condition, and led him to question the standard treatment approaches he had been employing.
Motivated by this encounter, Dr. Unwin, along with his wife Jen, a clinical psychologist, began a program at their practice in 2013 to offer a low-carb diet to patients with type 2 diabetes. The couple provided unpaid assistance, setting up support groups and monitoring the progress of their patients through regular weight checks and blood tests. This initiative led to tangible improvements in the health of many patients, including weight loss, better blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and in some cases, the ability to stop medication.
Advocacy for Low-Carb Diets
Dr. David Unwin is now a passionate advocate for low-carb diets and their potential benefits, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes. His work in this field is marked by a combination of clinical practice, research, and public outreach.
Dr. Unwin’s advocacy extends far beyond his clinical practice. One of his primary platforms for advocacy is the Low Carb Program, which he helped develop in 2015. This program provides structured education, resources, and support to people around the world interested in adopting a low-carb lifestyle. It offers live meetups and classes, one-on-one health coaching, and other features designed to foster positive behavior change and help individuals achieve their health goals1.
In addition to the Low Carb Program, Dr. Unwin is an active speaker and organizer in the community, working to spread knowledge and understanding about low-carb diets. He uses various platforms, including social media, YouTube, and podcasts to reach a wide audience. His Twitter handle, @PHCukorg, is a key outlet for his advocacy work.
One of Dr. Unwin’s recent initiatives was organizing a conference in the UK that brought together a range of speakers to discuss and promote the benefits of low-carb diets. The PHC 2023 Annual Conference conference, held under the auspices of the Public Health Collaboration (PHC), showcased the latest research and practical strategies for implementing a low-carb lifestyle.
Moreover, Dr. Unwin’s work with PHC, including his role as an advisor, underscores his commitment to better public health through dietary interventions. His efforts have helped to foster a supportive community for individuals seeking to improve their health through a low-carb diet.
In sum, Dr. Unwin’s advocacy for low-carb diets extends across many domains, from his clinical practice and research to his public outreach and educational initiatives. His work has contributed significantly to raising awareness about the potential benefits of low-carb diets, promoting their acceptance within the medical community, and supporting individuals in their pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.
Recent Research and Contributions
Dr. David Unwin is known for his pioneering work on low-carb diets, particularly in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. His approach has resulted in significant improvements for many of his patients, with several able to stop taking their diabetes medications due to improvements in their condition. He has written several peer-reviewed papers to strengthen the science behind low-carb diets, which have garnered significant attention and recognition in his field1.
One of his major research contributions is an observational study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health – titled “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.” The study examined 186 patients at his practice following the low-carb diet for an average of 33 months. The results were quite impressive: overall remission of type 2 diabetes was achieved in 51% of cases. Furthermore, a fifth of all patients at the practice with type 2 diabetes achieved remission, with 77% of those following the program in the first year of diagnosis achieving remission2.
Another one of his notable papers is “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” published in the Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes and Obesity in October 2021. The paper reviewed the impact of dietary protein intake, which may increase with a low carbohydrate diet, on renal function in people with type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Unwin’s work has not only impacted his own patients but has also influenced other practitioners and researchers in the UK and beyond. Other practices have followed his work, and he has contributed to the Low Carb Program, a platform offering structured education, resources, and support for individuals seeking to adopt a low-carb lifestyle. This program, developed in collaboration with Dr. Unwin in 2015, has been used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.