Metabolic Mind

Blood sugar and mental health are often deeply connected, yet they’re still often treated as separate problems.Dr. Bret Scher explores the relationship between glucose regulation, insulin resistance, mood, anxiety, and serious mental illness, including the higher rates of depression and anxiety among people living with diabetes, and factors that may contribute to that connection.He explains how blood sugar swings can trigger adrenaline and symptoms that may feel like anxiety or panic, how diabetes distress can take a psychological toll, and why metabolic abnormalities can sometimes be present even before psychiatric medications enter the picture.He covers:Why type 2 diabetes is linked with higher rates of anxiety and depressionWhat “diabetes distress” is and why it often goes unaddressedHow glucose spikes and reactive drops can affect mood and anxietyWhy bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are associated with higher rates of type 2 diabetesEvidence of metabolic dysfunction before first psychiatric treatmentWhy type 1 diabetes can also place a heavy psychological burden on patientsHow insulin resistance and inflammation may affect brain energy, mood, and cognitionWhy fasting insulin, glucose variability, diet, and lifestyle may deserve more attention in mental health careWhere low-carb approaches and ketogenic therapy may fit alongside existing care, with support from a healthcare teamDr. Scher suggests we take a more integrated view of mental and metabolic health. Instead of treating them as separate issues, we need to start asking how metabolic health may be affecting the brain and how mental health may be affecting the body.👉 Learn more about the potential benefits of low-carb and ketogenic diets for type 2 diabetes on our blog: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/stories/type-2-diabetes-and-brain-health-the-connection-to-mental-health-and-cognition/🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #NationalDiabetesMonthExpert Featured:Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=enhttps://x.com/bschermdFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice or establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications. In addition, it is important to note that people may respond differently to ketosis, and there isn't one recognized universal response.Therapeutic nutritional ketosis, or simply starting a ketogenic diet, is a powerful health and medical intervention that can change your body's metabolism and can dramatically alter brain function, medication levels, sleep patterns, energy levels, and other physiologic functions. If you have a psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral health symptoms, or take medications for a psychiatric condition, you should not start a ketogenic diet alone. Instead, consider starting a therapeutic ketogenic intervention with careful monitoring from your healthcare provider or an experienced clinician. We hope you will share information with your healthcare provider and discuss whether therapeutic ketosis is an appropriate, safe, and potentially effective intervention for you.

When someone you love is experiencing serious mental illness, caregiving can become a long process of learning when to step in and when to step back, while continuing to show up through uncertainty.For Family Caregivers Month, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Janet Ebos and her son Seth about the years they spent navigating depression, mania, psychosis, recovery, and the changing relationship between a mother and her son. Janet shares what it was like to search for answers, support Seth through repeated episodes, and gradually learn that caring for him also meant allowing him to find his own way forward.Seth’s mental health journey began during his first year of college and eventually included multiple episodes of manic psychosis. Along the way, he explored a range of treatments, including ketogenic therapy, fasting, and other metabolic approaches. Today, he describes himself as still in the process of recovery and is working toward completing his engineering degree.They discuss:What Janet went through as a parent trying to understand and support her sonHow caregiving changed their relationship over timeWhy caregivers need support for themselves, tooHow Janet learned to support Seth without trying to control the outcomeWhy surrender became an important part of her experienceWhat it was like for Seth to experience depression, mania, and psychosisWhy preserving the person behind the diagnosis mattersHow metabolic therapies became part of Seth’s recovery journeyWhy Seth needed to make his own decisions about ketogenic therapyThe role of communication, honesty, family, and communityWhat both of them have learned about recovery, and why patience mattersJanet and Seth also share advice for other families going through similar experiences, including the importance of support, taking care of yourself as a caregiver, and allowing recovery to unfold at its own pace.👉 Looking for caregiver support? Explore the Metabolic Collective’s family support group: metaboliccollective.org/groups-and-events/🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.#FamilyCaregiversMonth #MetabolicMind #MetabolicPsychiatryExperts By Experience Featured:Seth EbosJanet Eboshttps://www.metabolicmind.org/thinksmart/explore-strategies/janet-ebos/https://www.instagram.com/janet.ebos/https://www.purelyjanet.ca/https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-ebos/Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice or establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications. In addition, it is important to note that people may respond differently to ketosis, and there isn't one recognized universal response.Therapeutic nutritional ketosis, or simply starting a ketogenic diet, is a powerful health and medical intervention that can change your body's metabolism and can dramatically alter brain function, medication levels, sleep patterns, energy levels, and other physiologic functions. If you have a psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral health symptoms, or take medications for a psychiatric condition, you should not start a ketogenic diet alone. Instead, consider starting a therapeutic ketogenic intervention with careful monitoring from your healthcare provider or an experienced clinician. We hope you will share information with your healthcare provider and discuss whether therapeutic ketosis is an appropriate, safe, and potentially effective intervention for you.

For some, experiencing meaningful change through metabolic therapies sparks a new purpose: helping others find hope and new options.In this special Metabolic Mind video, Hannah Warren interviews two advocates whose experiences show how personal recovery stories and grassroots organizing are expanding the conversation around chronic disease and mental health.Eric Rodgers shares how ketogenic and other metabolic therapies changed his experience living with chronic depression and gave him more capacity to handle life’s ups and downs. Chérie St. Alnauld shares the mission of Metabolic Revolution, a grassroots organization that spreads education and awareness to patients and clinicians around metabolic health and its role in chronic disease reversal and remission.They discuss:Eric’s experience using metabolic therapies while living with chronic depressionHow The Cholesterol Code explores ketogenic therapy, LDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular riskWhy grassroots organizing and patient-led advocacy matterHow Metabolic Revolution supports education and chronic disease prevention effortsHow to get involved, including signing the petition to remove ultra-processed foods from schoolsTogether, these interviews show how lived experience can inspire advocacy and how personal recovery stories can help build a broader movement for metabolic health.🎬 Watch The Cholesterol Code documentary and join the conversation shaping the future of metabolic health: amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0GS8ZFCYN/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r📖 Interested in learning more about metabolic psychiatry? Check out our blog “Metabolic Psychiatry: A New Lens on Mental Health” to explore how researchers and clinicians are examining the connection between metabolism and mental health: metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/stories/metabolic-psychiatry-a-new-lens-on-mental-health/🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #TheCholesterolCodeExpert Featured:Eric Rodgershttps://www.metabolicmind.org/thinksmart/explore-strategies/eric-rodgers/https://x.com/DrEricRodgersChérie St. Alnauldhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriestarnauld/https://x.com/MetRevolutionhttps://www.instagram.com/metabolicrevolutionnowhttps://www.youtube.com/@MetabolicRevResources Mentioned:https://www.metabolicrevolution.org/Free CME Clinician Trainings:Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-ytFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Stress can disrupt sleep quickly, and when poor sleep becomes a pattern, the effects can reach far beyond next-day fatigue.For International Stress Awareness Week, we’re calling attention to the broader health effects of chronic stress, including the way disrupted sleep can affect cortisol, metabolism, and brain function.In this video, Dr. Scher discusses the glymphatic system’s proposed role in clearing brain waste during sleep, including proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. He also explores possible links between disrupted sleep, stress hormones, and brain energy metabolism.He covers:How the glymphatic system works during deep sleepWhy healthy brain energy metabolism may be important for this overnight clearing processThe connection between insulin resistance, cortisol, and fragmented sleepWhy late-night eating may interfere with deep sleepHow reducing refined carbohydrates in the evening may affect glucose stability and sleepWhy nutritional ketosis is being studied as a supplemental fuel strategyHow morning light helps set the circadian rhythm for sleep later that nightWhy protecting sleep may be important for long-term cognitive healthDr. Scher explains why the quality of our sleep may have consequences that extend far beyond feeling tired the next day, especially as researchers continue to learn more about the relationship between sleep and brain metabolism.🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.#StressAwarenessWeek #MetabolicMind #MetabolicPsychiatryExpert Featured:Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=enhttps://x.com/bschermdFree CME Clinician Trainings:Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits: https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-ytFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Type 2 diabetes is often treated as a chronic, progressive disease, but Dr. David Unwin has spent years showing that, for many patients, remission is possible through low-carb nutrition and a different approach to care.In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Unwin about how his work as an NHS primary care physician changed after he began focusing on insulin resistance, carbohydrate intake, and the underlying drivers of type 2 diabetes rather than blood sugar alone.Dr. Unwin shares how his approach to care evolved and discusses published real-world findings on type 2 diabetes remission among patients who chose a low-carb approach. He also explains why long-term maintenance became just as important as achieving remission in the first place, and how he uses continuous glucose monitors to support that process. He also describes his approach to behavioral support, including addressing food addiction.They discuss:How Dr. Unwin’s approach to type 2 diabetes changed after discovering low-carb nutritionWhat his published NHS data show about drug-free diabetes remissionWhy insulin resistance is central to how he explains type 2 diabetes to patientsHow low-carb diets can be personalized using A1C, weight, waist circumference, and continuous glucose monitoringWhy maintaining remission can be harder than achieving itThe role food and carbohydrate addiction may play in long-term adherenceHow continuous glucose monitors can provide immediate feedbackWhere GLP-1 medications may fit alongside nutrition and behavior changeWhy medication management with a healthcare provider is especially important when starting a low-carb dietWhat Dr. Unwin believes the rise in type 2 diabetes tells us about changes in our food environmentDr. Unwin’s experience shows how much can change when clinicians look beyond glucose control and ask what may be driving the disease in the first place. His work also offers a hopeful reminder that type 2 diabetes does not always have to follow the progressive path many patients are taught to expect.🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #Type2DiabetesExpert Featured:Dr. David Unwinhttps://x.com/lowcarbGPFree CME Clinician Trainings:Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits: https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-ytFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.