| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Group email: | Exploring Low Carb (3 session course) group |
| When: | On Friday mornings 10:30 am-12:30 pm 3rd in month |
| Venue: | Heysham Library |
| Cost: | £2 per session |
This is a supportive, healthy lifestyle group where we examine the potential benefits for people with a range of conditions, especially pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, of following a Real Food-Low Carb-Healthy Fat approach to eating.
We consider evidence from nutritional research plus the recent history of dietary guidelines and make recommendations for further reading and viewing. The practical element consists of sharing recipes and tastings - as well as finding strategies for managing a Low Carb lifestyle in a High Carb food environment.
If you have recently been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, this short course - delivered in the form of three sessions at monthly intervals - may be just the thing to motivate you to make the necessary changes to get your health back on track. You can choose between October to December 2026, January to March 2027 or April to June 2027, with all sessions taking place at Heysham Library on the third Friday morning of the month. The first sessions start on Friday 16 October 2026 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
We will begin by looking at why it is crucial for health to control blood sugar and tackle insulin resistance, as well as considering historical perspectives. We will then move on to the practicalities of pursuing a Low Carb lifestyle in a High Carb food environment. Each session will include a Low Carb tasting. Participants will be expected to do additional reading - and ideally view recommended selected online videos that complement the sessions.
Session 1: Introducing Low Carb
We look briefly at the context of declining health and rising obesity in the UK and the need for an alternative and effective dietary approach. We then dispel some popular misconceptions about Low Carb before going on to explore first steps.
Session 2: Low Carb practicalities
We examine the practicalities of this way of eating in more depth, consider whether or not to count carbs, and learn to identify the useful bits of information in nutritional food labels.
Session 3: Insulin and insulin resistance
We look at the role of insulin in our metabolism and why this hormone is so central to good health for everyone. We learn how insulin resistance is being linked to an ever-growing list of chronic conditions – and how tackling it offers hope for the future.
Recommended Reading:
'Could It Be Insulin Resistance?' by Hanna Purdy - an introduction to this overlooked health issue which underlies many chronic conditions
'Why We Get Sick' by Benjamin Bikman - a more in-depth consideration of insulin resistance
'A Statin-Free Life' by Dr Aseem Malhotra - a UK cardiologist talks about the pros and cons of statins in a slim, easy-to-read volume
'The Great Cholesterol Con' by Dr Malcolm Kendrick - a more in-depth examination of the issues around cholesterol and statins
'Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind' by Dr Georgia Ede - a comprehensive look at the effect on mental health of what we eat
'Eat Fat, Cut the Carbs and Avoid Snacking to Reverse Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes' by the National Obesity Forum (available to download from https://phcuk.org/evidence/ )
The Freshwell Low Carb Project ( http://www.lowcarbfreshwell.com ) for recipes and meal plans, educational videos, and a free mobile app.
Parking at the side or on the local roads; wheelchair accessible. Bus number 1A from Lancaster/Morecambe, 2X from Heysham.
Useful Links
Members can find details of all groups and contacts here. (You will leave this website.)
Non-members can access a calendar of the meeting dates for all groups here. (You will leave this website.)
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