- 17 April 2026
Diet, Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
HOSTED BY DOCTORS FOR NUTRITION
Doctors For Nutrition’s first Six Pillars webinar explored the evidence that a plant-based diet and lifestyle can prevent and even reverse type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic conditions worldwide, outpacing even heart disease and cancer. In 2024, diabetes caused 3.4 million deaths—1 every 9 seconds—making it a true global epidemic. One Australian is diagnosed with diabetes every 5 minutes, and around 1.3 million people are living with the disease. New Zealand has seen a 90% increase in the number of diabetes cases, and numbers continue to climb with more than 340,000 people affected.
Robust evidence supports whole‑food, plant‑based and plant‑rich dietary patterns—rich in whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables—for diabetes prevention, improved glycaemic control, and remission in some cohorts, often outperforming standard dietary approaches in randomised controlled trials.
Nutrition and lifestyle interventions are pivotal for preventing, managing, and in some cases reversing type 2 diabetes. Australian and New Zealand GPs recognise the importance of nutrition counselling but report barriers beyond training.
This webinar provides GPs and other health professionals with vital information on how an eating pattern focused on whole plant foods and other lifestyle interventions can reduce their patients’ risk of developing diabetes.
Following the recorded presentation is a question and answer section that was answered live by Amy Leahy and Hollie Waters.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this activity, attendees will be able to:
- Describe two ways in which dietary and lifestyle choices affect key pathophysiological mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk and progression.
- Identify at least three evidence‑based lifestyle interventions that can prevent, improve, or potentially reverse insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
- Recall specific evidence‑based resources and tools to support patients in adopting dietary habits that reduce insulin resistance and improve glycaemic control.
Speakers:
Amy Leahy, MPH
Amy Leahy is a degree-qualified nutritionist with over six years of experience in plant-based health education and clinical practice. She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine and a Master of Public Health.
Amy has developed educational content and resources for a range of plant-based health organisations and corporate wellness programs. She is passionate about creating accessible, engaging, and evidence-informed materials for healthcare professionals and the general public and is a firm believer that confidence in our knowledge of plant-based health and diets makes it easier to make the switch – and to sustain it for the long term.
Hollie Waters, APD
Hollie Waters is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Credentialled Eating Disorder Clinician. She holds a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics from Griffith University, and a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition through eCornell. Hollie is a passionate advocate of the benefits of plant-based nutrition, having followed a plant-based diet herself for the past 12 years.
Through her private practice, Etico Nutrition, Hollie supports others to adopt and maintain a healthy whole food plant-based diet. She also works to highlight the many benefits of a compassionate and low-impact lifestyle. Hollie has a special interest in dietary management of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, as well as sustainable food production practices and zero-waste strategies. Her goal is to provide her patients with the tools and knowledge they need to improve their health through sustainable dietary and lifestyle choices.
CPD hours:
This activity is approved for:
- 2.5 CPD hours (Educational Activities) with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- 2.5 PDP hours with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
- 2.5 CME hours with the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) toward the Lifestyle Medicine Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
CPD hours will be awarded upon viewing the webinar (live or on demand), reviewing two brief supporting papers, and either completing a short quiz (for on-demand viewers) or submitting brief responses to preparatory questions prior to the live session (for live attendees).
Access:
Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.
