Achieving remission from T2DM - RACGP

By completing this course, health professionals will be able to:

Define insulin resistance and its central role in metabolic disease, recognising its strong association with chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
Explain the mechanisms underpinning insulin resistance, including impaired insulin receptor function at the cellular level, the role of excess carbohydrate and fructose intake and the impact of lipid raft disruption in cell membranes.
Interpret clinical markers of insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, such as elevated fasting insulin, glucose intolerance and patterns of fat distribution.
Evaluate current evidence on dietary interventions for metabolic health, including the superiority of low carbohydrate diets over low-fat approaches in randomised controlled trials for weight loss, glycaemic control and energy expenditure.
Discuss the impacts of specific dietary components—notably carbohydrates, sugars, and seed oils—on metabolic pathways, de novo lipogenesis, and the formation of harmful lipids such as ceramides.
Critically assess common dietary myths, including claims relating to the “necessity” of dietary carbohydrate for brain function and the role of saturated fat in insulin resistance.
Summarise evidence relating to seed oils and health, including their documented effects on risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and the mechanism by which phytosterols may contribute to insulin resistance.
Identify the interconnectedness of metabolic disease and other pathologies, including immune dysfunction, mental health disorders and thyroid disturbances.
Apply practical advice for dietary change, including the benefits of restricting ultra-processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and seed oils to improve metabolic outcomes.
Reflect on historical and contemporary research, including studies involving dietary change in different populations, to inform current best practice in the prevention and management of metabolic dysfunction and type 2 diabetes.

These outcomes are designed to equip health professionals with critical understanding and practical strategies to address metabolic dysfunction through evidence-based dietary interventions and informed clinical decision-making.

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About Prof Peter Brukner

Professor Peter Brukner OAM is an internationally renowned sports and exercise physician, pioneering academic, and public health advocate. He is the founding partner of the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Melbourne, Professor of Sports Medicine at La Trobe University, and has held prominent roles with elite sporting organisations, including serving as the Australian cricket team doctor, Head of Sports Medicine at Liverpool Football Club, and team physician at multiple Olympic and Commonwealth Games. A founding Executive Member and two-term President of the Australasian College of Sports Physicians, Professor Brukner has made significant contributions to the advancement of sports medicine practice and education in Australia and globally.

Beyond sports medicine, Professor Brukner is a leading authority on nutrition and therapeutic carbohydrate reduction (TCR). Driven by a personal and professional interest in metabolic health, he has championed reducing carbohydrate intake as an effective strategy for managing type 2 diabetes, obesity, and related chronic diseases. Peter is the Founder and Chair of Defeat Diabetes, Australia’s first clinically proven program supporting TCR for diabetes management. He is also known for the SugarByHalf campaign and his best-selling books "A Fat Lot of Good" and "The Diabetes Plan". Professor Brukner was awarded Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria 2025 in recognition of his contributions to both sports medicine and public health nutrition.