Dr. Andrew Koutnik shares his dual perspective as both the longest-studied juvenile diabetes patient on therapeutic carbohydrate reduction and as a researcher collaborating with Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the University of Washington.

Diagnosed with type one diabetes as an adolescent, Andrew was told to expect complications: cardiovascular disease, kidney decline, brittle bones, and brain damage . Instead, through more than a decade of sustaining therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, he has defied those expectations and helped demonstrate, through research, it’s potential for juvenile diabetes.

This presentation goes beyond one disease. It highlights how impaired metabolism underlies most chronic illnesses, from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even psychiatric disorders, and why nutrition must be recognized as a frontline therapy, not an afterthought.

• Mandate metabolic screening in standard-of-care
• Reform federal and institutional nutrition guidelines to reflect the evidence
• Expand access to medical nutrition therapy and monitoring tools

As Dr. Koutnik puts it: metabolic health isn’t just about management; it’s about prevention, reversal, and saving lives. The time to act is now.