Dr. Caryn Zinn

07/05/2025

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I last posted, but I just had to jump on and share this moment I experienced yesterday at the My Food Bag test kitchen.
A group of us were invited to the test kitchen for the launch of…wait for it… MyFoodBag’s new Low Carb meal range.
For our team in the picture Grant Schofield, Louise Schofield PREKURE (minus Chef Craig) and me, this was a really important day. Why? We published our first What The Fat? book almost 10 years ago, and back then, low carb was only entering the NZ scene and copped major criticism.
Fast forward… it’s made its way into NZ’s most successful meal-kit home-delivery service. This not only reflects public demand but also that the concept of whole food, carbohydrate reduction is pretty much mainstream.
Dietitian Lily Henderson and Saskia Lesser - Development Chef, Food Stylist & Recipe Tester have done a fabulous job in making sure these meals are filling (no scrimping on protein), colourful (loads of veggies) and super tasty!
Yes, it’s been a long time coming, and there has been a lot of progress in the field, but this does feel like a major win. For the passionate amongst us, persistence for a good cause turns obstacles into stepping stones, we made it!
https://www.myfoodbag.co.nz/meal-kits

07/05/2025

Results of the longest trial (5y) of carbohydrate-reduction for T2D (conducted by Virta Health) has just been published, and shows remission is achievable and sustainable. Remission was observed in 20 % of those enrolled at five years, and the majority of those in remission had sustained it for at least four years. Other outcomes show sustained improvements in body mass, HbA1c, triglycerides, HDLc, and inflammatory markers, with no significant change in LDLc and Total cholesterol. Read the paper to see how remission outcomes compare with other forms of treatment.
Anyone who still says there is no long term evidence showing this dietary approach is safe and effecive for T2D, is incorrect, there is evidence and it's looking looking good. https://www.diabetesresearchclinicalpractice.com/article/S0168-8227(24)00808-8/fulltext?fbclid=IwY2xjawLWJk1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhxahO5F3Lg7m2X27R1VUAjtciXGvzVlzLeEaB85M1J44gPrS_WzGQpcR9rh_aem_-CUjIPeSM_1EDHF59xkkzA

This study assessed the five-year effects of a continuous care intervention (CCI) delivered via telemedicine, counseling people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on a very low carbohydrate diet with nutritional ketosis.

07/05/2025

Gotto keep pushing that message, even at ridiculously early hours of the morning.
https://links.streem.com.au/tvnz-one-20250319...
To flesh it out, our AUT research project aims to get metabolic health and lifestle medicine higher up on the agenda when it comes to delivering health care for communities with prediabetes and T2D.
For more information, check out our website. https://www.wholenz.org/research-project Feel free to peruse the site, and enjoy the free resources in the resources tab. If you want to be involved in the project, as a primary care team, please get in touch wholenz@aut.ac.nz

is a collective movement in NZ, representing a unified effort aimed at reversing pre-diabetes and T2diabetes in our communities. Our goal is to improve the way healthcare is delivered to those living with diabetes and more broadly, chronic disease, by promoting a whole food, carbohydrate-re...

07/05/2025

A much-needed addition to the field- finally a tailored food pyramid for a population group with insulin resistance and metabolic disease. This new paper addresses the many myths that are often alleged about low-carb diets, i.e., that they are nutritionally deficient, cause heart disease, increase mortality and have harmful side effects etc...
Great work by this team!

07/05/2025

🖤 RIP Dr Richard Bernstein (1934–2025)
Sad to hear that Dr Richard Bernstein has passed away yesterday at age 90. A total legend in the low carb and type 1 diabetes space, his work changed lives around the world.
Diagnosed with type 1 at age 12, he used self-experimentation to pioneer home glucose monitoring and tight blood sugar control, decades before it became mainstream. Frustrated by the medical system, he went to med school in his 40s so he could help others do what he did: live a long, healthy life with diabetes.
His book Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution and his “Diabetes University” videos inspired thousands. He fought for one simple principle: every person with diabetes deserves normal blood sugars.
Thank you, Dr B. Your legacy will live on. 💙

07/05/2025

Wegovy comes to NZ...
I suspect many of you have been tuned in this week with the arrival of Wegovy in New Zealand pharmacies, a non-funded option for obesity treatment, costing individuals around NZ$500 per month.
Both myself and my colleague Prof Grant Schofield had the chance to share our perspectives in the media on this topic, if you care to have a listen.
🎙️ I spoke with Kerre Woodham on Newstalk ZB about the surge in demand for What the Fat! a book that we wrote and published 10 years ago on whole food carbohydrate reduction (which is still relevant and works, according to many who phoned in).
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/.../caryn-zinn-dietician.../
🎙️ Prof Grant Schofield discussed Wegovy’s effectiveness in relation to its place in public health with Emile Donovan on Radio NZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/.../20189.../wegovy-makes-its-nz-debut
Plenty of interesting debate came to the surface, feel free to add your view in the comments…

01/24/2025

“Please donate to the Diabetes Australia Christmas Appeal. DiaBuddies Days really help us carve out much needed social connection, fun and laughter as well as showing them that with a little planning and support they can tackle all sorts of adventures. DiaBuddies has shown Ari and his friends they can do anything —from playing golf, to swimming with dolphins.”
“They only get one childhood, and every positive moment helps build the resilience they’ll need to thrive.”
- Elfrida, mum to 10-year-old Ari who lives with type 1 diabetes.
Donate today.

10/12/2024

New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reveals that overweight and obesity now pose a greater risk to Australians’ health than smoking.
The 2024 Australian Burden of Disease Study highlights that 8.3% of the total disease burden is linked to being overweight, compared to 7.6% from to***co use.
The data underscores a pressing need for bold action to reduce modifiable risk factors like poor diet, inactivity, and obesity.

10/12/2024

📢 📢 NOW RECRUITING! 📢 📢
Do you have Type 2 Diabetes and Persistent Pain? We’d love your help testing a new, online intervention developed to improve pain severity and pain interference.
The study involves completing 4 x 10-15 minute online training sessions over two weeks, as well as some pre and post-intervention surveys. The study will take approximately 2.5 hours of your time over 3-months.
Your participation will help contribute to diabetes research, and we will donate $5 to Diabetes Australia for each person who completes this study.
To learn more and get involved please follow this link 👉
https://ow.ly/CVjX50UJTLj
or scan the QR code in the flyer below.
Questions? Email the research team at cbmi.diabetes@sydney.edu.au