ONE of the leading figures behind the low carbohydrate movement in the UK came to Skipton at the weekend and heaped praise on a local voluntary group.

Dr David Unwin, a Southport GP, gained international recognition after achieving outstanding results at his practice with his low carb dietary approach to diabetes, obesity and other serious conditions.

He is a former NHS Innovator of the Year, and regularly appears on TV and in the national press.

He joined diners at a special low carb lunch at Skipton’s Rendezvous Hotel on Sunday organised by the hotel in conjunction with Verner Wheelock, founder of the voluntary group, Low Carb Skipton.

Dr Unwin praised the work of Low Carb Skipton, which has helped a significant number of people across North and West Yorkshire to lower their blood glucose levels.

The group has members from around the Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale areas.

Dr Unwin said: “We are seeing a grassroots revolution.

"The internet is democratising medicine for the first time and Low Carb Skipton is a wonderful example of that.”

Low Carb Skipton was showing the way and it was “marvellous” that members of the group were not just relying on GPs but were educating themselves about their conditions via the internet, he said.

Dr Unwin’s practice has seen around a third of the 175 pre diabetic and Type 2 diabetic patients, who are following his low carb programme, reach drug-free remission. His drug-free strategy is saving his practice £57,000 a year.

His low carb message is also going out to other medical professionals around the country but he acknowledged frustration that the majority of GPs are still not adopting this approach.

He said many GPs were “simply too stretched” to develop their expertise in diabetes, he said, but he called on all North and West Yorkshire practices to study his diabetes e-learning module “if they haven’t already done so".

Dr Unwin, who later held a talk and a question and answer session, expressed his deep concern at the startling rise in Type 2 diabetes and obesity, particularly amongst young people.

His message, he said, was for people to sharply reduce their carbohydrates (which break down into sugar.) but he reserved his harshest words for the increasing consumption of sugary snacks such as biscuits, cakes fast food and sugary drinks.

“Sugar is almost a poison for Type 2 diabetics so they should be trying very hard to cut right back on it,” he said.

For more information on Low Carb Skipton contact Verner Wheelock on 01535 636008 or email verner.wheelock@vwa.co.uk.