DEFEAT Graves' Disease AND Type 1 Diabetes on Carnivore | Dr. Shawn Baker & Darby | #diabetes month

Key wellness strategies & self-care / productivity takeaways

Core diet approach (primary strategy)

• Shift from the Standard American Diet to 100% carnivore (started around the end of March; followed by a “lion diet” phase).
• Remove plants/plant material completely, with transition taking about two weeks.
• Strict “lion diet” for ~110 days:
  • Beef or lamb
  • Salt and water only
• After lion diet:
  • Gradually reintroduced pork, eggs, and occasional chicken (e.g., chicken wings cooked in tallow).
  • Over time, continued to prefer beef + eggs + salt (+ butter).
• Cheese as a personal trigger:
  • Reported gas/irritation after eating cheese.
• Organ meats (planned/considered):
  • Considered adding liver for nutrient support (e.g., a strategy focused on vitamins A/K/D and addressing nutrient depletion).

Medical/lab-driven self-management (important operational pattern)

• Tracked biomarkers over time, including:
  • GAD65 antibodies (noted lab cut-off; “>250” initially, later improved—exact magnitude unclear).
  • Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI / TRAb-type marker) decreased (reported 301% → 198% over about 8 months).
• Medication follow-up and reassessment:
  • Methimazole (Graves) reduced/stopped after dietary change (patient report).
  • Continued monitoring encouraged/maintained via an immunologist/endocrinologist.
• Glucose management during insulin taper:
  • Became hypoglycemic on insulin while reducing carbs.
  • Discontinued insulin after about two weeks due to low readings and symptoms.
  • Experienced a temporary spike after likely illness; corrected through fasting and returning to the diet.

Wellness outcomes highlighted (why it mattered)

• Graves disease improvement signals:
  • Thyroid hormones described as “dead center” in the normal range (patient report).
  • Antibody reduction over time (patient report).
• Type 1 diabetes “honeymoon/remission-like” experience (patient report):
  • No longer needed insulin after an early phase.
  • Interest in C-peptide testing to assess functional beta-cell output.
• Allergy/sinus improvements:
  • Dramatic reduction in sinus infections (from recurring infections to near resolution).
• Inflammation/pain and performance recovery:
  • Returned to exercise milestones:
    • Running a mile < 7:30 (first time in ~20 years)
    • Deadlifts and squats resumed with improved pain-free function
  • Dental/gum health improved (no longer bleeding/inflamed, per patient report).

Supplement / vitamin D plan (mentioned as next step)

• Considering a high vitamin D approach with medical guidance, plus:
  • Artificial sunlight / light exposure in winter
  • Possibly ~10,000–20,000 IU vitamin D range (patient-quoted plan; confirm with clinician)
• Using organ meats (e.g., liver) as an additional nutrient source.

Exercise & lifestyle “self-care” momentum

• Gradual return to physical activity rather than quitting:
  • Lifted weights again as pain improved.
  • Used concrete functional goals (mile time, deadlift/squat) to rebuild capacity.
• Quality-of-life framing:
  • Focus on regaining ability to train, work out, and do family activities—not just normalizing lab numbers.

---

Presenters / sources

• Dr. Shawn Baker
• Darby (guest/patient story; from Greenwood, Indiana)
• Dr. Ken Berry (referenced)
• Dr. Anthony Chafee (referenced)
• Dr. Chung (referenced; IU West Hospital in Avon, Indiana; ordered thyroid panel)