Rethinking type 2 diabetes: genetics, lifestyle, and a new era for treatment, with Dr. Naveed Sattar

Type 2 diabetes is a disease on the rise. It affects over 4 million people in the UK, with many living with it undiagnosed. So how can we recognise the signs, reduce our risks, or better live with it?  This week, Greg and Charlie put these questions to Dr. Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow and one of the world's most cited researchers in diabetes and obesity science. With over 1,400 peer-reviewed publications, a career spent working directly with patients, and his own first-hand experience of living with an elevated risk of diabetes, Naveed is a voice to be reckoned with on this subject. Starting with the science, Naveed will explain what happens inside the body when we develop type 2 diabetes: why it’s different from type 1, and how ectopic fat (fat that gets stored around our middle and in non-fat organs like the liver or pancreas) hinders insulin production. We talk about the genetic and environmental factors that heighten our risks, and about why certain populations are more vulnerable.  You will see that when it comes to diabetes, the science has changed over the last decade: moving away from focusing on sugar, toward prioritising weight loss instead, with GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy playing a part. In our practice segment, Naveed, Greg, and Charlie get into what this all means for day-to-day life. Including: How Naveed changed his lifestyle after being diagnosed at risk (23:21) Screening and testing for diabetes (27:33) The role of movement in reducing risks (30:05) Where and how GLP-1 medications get factored in (33:39) Finally, in the experience section, we turn to your listener questions. We hear from those navigating gestational diabetes, and from people who have been living with type 2 diabetes or are trying to lower their risks. If you take only one thing away from this episode, remember that a type 2 diabetes diagnosis is not the result of lifestyle choices. This episode is for anyone who wants to make sense of a disease that has been driven by socio-economic factors, and moves faster than most of us realise. If you'd like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note or write in at [email protected] To Explore Further: The Diabetes Risk Score Test from Diabetes UK   The Diabetes Prevention Programme Study from the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases   Sattar N & Buse JB - "Why Early, Large-scale Weight Loss Is the Future of Type 2 Diabetes Care."   Sattar N & Gill JMR - "Type 2 diabetes in migrant South Asians."  Naveed Sattar - University of Glasgow profile Greg Potter - Website Greg Potter - Instagram Thriva - Website About Thriva: Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan — how long we're living — and healthspan — how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what's going on inside your body — and what to do about it — before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva's values and services, visit https://thriva.co/