Rethinking Diabetes

What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments

By: Gary Taubes

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

An eye-opening investigation into the history of diabetes research and treatment by the award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Why We Get Fat • "[Gary] Taubes’s meticulous, science-based work makes him the Bryan Stevenson of nutrition, an early voice in the wilderness for an unorthodox view that is increasingly becoming accepted."—Neil Barsky, The Guardian

Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes was treated almost exclusively through diet, from subsistence on meat, to reliance on fats, to repeated fasting and near-starvation regimens. After two centuries of conflicting medical advice, most authorities today believe that those with diabetes can have the same dietary freedom enjoyed by the rest of us, leaving the job of controlling their disease to insulin therapy and other blood-sugar-lowering medications. Rather than embark on “futile” efforts to restrict sugar or carbohydrate intake, people with diabetes can lead a normal life, complete with the occasional ice-cream cake, side of fries, or soda.

These guiding principles, however, have been accompanied by an explosive rise in diabetes over the last fifty years, particularly among underserved populations. And the health of those with diabetes is expected to continue to deteriorate inexorably over time, with ever-increasing financial, physical, and psychological burdens. In Rethinking Diabetes, Gary Taubes explores the history underpinning the treatment of diabetes, types 1 and 2, elucidating how decades-old research that is rife with misconceptions has continued to influence the guidance physicians offer—at the expense of their patients’ long-term well-being.

The result of Taubes’s work is a reimagining of diabetes care that argues for a recentering of diet—particularly, fewer carbohydrates and more fat—over a reliance on insulin. Taubes argues critically and passionately that doctors and medical researchers should question the established wisdom that may have enabled the current epidemic of diabetes and obesity, and renew their focus on clinical trials to resolve controversies that are now a century in the making.

©2024 Gary Taubes (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"One of the crucial responsibilities of scientists and science journalists is to question established beliefs and common assumptions. Gary Taubes accomplished precisely this in this thought-provoking book. Through his extensive research, Taubes offers significant insights, shedding light on the evolution of our understanding of diabetes, for good or bad. Additionally, Taubes delves into the potential of promising and efficacious treatments, offering a glimpse into the future of diabetes management."—Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies

“Decades of research have brought us shifting and even contradictory recommendations on managing diabetes. In lucid prose, Taubes sifts through and critically reviews what is known. Rethinking Diabetes convincingly makes the case for a new paradigm for the prevention and treatment of this common disorder.”—Abraham Verghese, M.D., author of The Covenant of Water

"Given the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, health and science journalist [Gary] Taubes...offers a crucial reassessment of the proper diet for controlling the disease...When it comes to the connection between diet and chronic illness, Taubes has consistently proven himself to be a superb investigator... [Here] He convincingly makes the case... Like a Michelin-star chef, Taubes has prepared a tantalizing offering spiced with sound science and heavy on fat calories."—Tony Miksanek, Booklist, starred review*

Outstanding

Gary Taubes has produced an excellent work of the medical history about diabetes, T1 and T2. Anyone with diabetes or who has a family member with diabetes should read/listen to this book.

Brilliant!

This extraordinarily well-researched and in depth t look at the history of diabetes research and treatment throughout the last century will teach you more than you will learn in medical school.
It should be required reading for every physician.
It is not light reading but will teach you everything you need to know to make sound judgments about how to eat for optical metabolic health.
A must read for anyone with diabetes or prediabetes.

Gary Taubes never disappoints.

I am a practicing physician, specializing in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. Prior to medical school, I earned a Master’s degree in Nutrition, specifically Nutritional Biochemistry. That was in the 1970’s. I learned the catechism well. Unfortunately, much that has been taught by Nutrition “science “ is simply not true—and, more importantly, is not science.

Having followed the field for almost fifty years, I broke with the mainstream between twenty and twenty-five years ago, I have been encouraging our patients to change to very low carb diets. Those who do have had excellent results. However, until about eleven years ago, I didn’t practice what I was preaching. At that time, because I had allowed myself to gain so much weight, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. I adopted a low carb lifestyle at that time. The diabetes resolved within a few months. However, I will continue to follow a low carb lifestyle for the rest of my life. I have lost over 100 pounds, and feel like I have aged backwards about forty years.

I cannot say enough good things about Gary Taubes. He is one of the finest science writers I have had the pleasure of reading—and listening to on Audiobooks. His research is meticulous and thorough. I believe I have read all of his books and recommend them to patients. If you are interested in a detailed discussion of the science of diet and diabetes, I highly recommend this book to you. You will not be disappointed.

Very informative.

I really liked the history lesson on diabetes and treatments through the years. Very good information throughout.

Lots of information

This was very helpful to see the history behind this disease and how it has been addressed through the years by the medical community.

Coke, fries & burger on a pretzel bun

The American diet is killing us because we eat what we want instead of what we should. Diabetics want to eat anything they want to eat and then dose themselves with enough insulin to make them feel normal. Well read diabetics will avoid carbs that send blood sugar rising and eat foods that keep them healthy well into old age. within these pages, if your mind is open, you’ll understand that we have known how to keep our A1c with a normal ranges since the late 1800s but have ignored it. Doctors and the American diabetes association, financially benefit from keeping diabetics doped up on insulin. This was an excellent read.

The amount of cognitive dissonance that exists in the medical community.

I felt like Gary Taubes  was very well researched in the rating of this book and  courageously exposed watch the medical community has been slow to embrace.

very detailed history of the study of diabetes melitus

it is unbelievable how much confirmation bias has colored what we know about how to deal with this disease.

Important, disturbing comprehensive state of diabetes

Gives both sides of the story on treatment of diabetes as well as the history

describes & contextualizes my life as a T1DM

Another impeccably, exhaustively researched book by Gary Taubes. It's mind-boggling that in the face of such persuasive evidence, the diabetes industry remains resistant, clinging to dogma based on faulty science. After 58 years as a T1DM, every word resonated with me. Don't believe the hype, people: very low carb is the best way--I would go so far as to say the only way, but individuals do differ--to achieve quality of life.