Time to Rethink the
Cause and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Most cases aren’t caused by “insulin resistance.” They are caused by diet—and that means they can be prevented or reversed.

Why This Matters Now

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the fastest-growing health crises of our time.

589M

Adults with diabetes worldwide today

Rising rapidly

853M

Projected cases by 2050
45% increase

$300B+

Annual U.S. spending on diabetes care
Preventable costs

Even more alarming: Type 2 diabetes is now appearing in young adults and adolescents

Despite decades of research, treatment, and billions of dollars spent, the epidemic is accelerating.

👉 Something is missing in our understanding.

The Problem with the Current Explanation

The dominant theory is insulin resistance: that muscle, fat, and liver cells stop responding to insulin. But this leaves major questions unanswered:

Why insulin?

Out of 50+ hormones in the body, why would cells resist just this one?

Why only 3 cell types?

Out of 200, why only muscle, liver, and fat cells?

Why no muscle failure?

If muscles resisted insulin, why do they still function normally?

Why paradoxes in treatment?

If patients are “resistant,” why prescribe more insulin—and why do complications still develop?

👉 These contradictions show weaknesses in the insulin resistance model. Patients deserve better.

A New Explanation: The Fatty Acid Burn Switch

After 25 years of research, Dr. John Poothullil proposes a more consistent explanation: The Fatty Acid Burn Switch.

👉 This is not “resistance.” It’s a logical metabolic response to nutritional overload—consistent with the science of the Randle Cycle and clinical evidence.

Why This Matters for Treatment

The Fatty Acid Burn Switch reframes how we need to address Type 2 diabetes:

📌 Even the American Diabetes Association acknowledges that diet and exercise are more effective than insulin in preventing complications.

The Call to Action

This is not just a scientific debate—it’s a public health crisis.

Millions are being told their bodies are “resistant to insulin” but that insulin is their only solution, even as complications continue.

This is illogical.

If you are a science journalist or policymaker in healthcare, we invite you to contact us to discuss this new scientific perspective on the cause and treatment of Type 2 diabetes. 
 
If you are pre-diabetic or have Type 2 diabetes, it is imperative that you begin altering your diet to reduce your consumption of refined carbs. 

💡 The U.S. spends over $300 billion annually on type 2 diabetes care. Most of these costs could be reduced with prevention-first strategies rooted in nutrition science.

Real Stories, Real Change

See how people have transformed their health with nutrition-first strategies

References

1. World Health Organization. Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020. Geneva: WHO; 2013.

2. International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes Facts & Figures. Brussels: IDF; 2023.

3. Xie J, Wang M, et al. Global burden of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults, 1990–2019. BMJ. 2022;379:e072385.

4. American Diabetes Association. Lifestyle Change Programs. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Suppl 1):S101–S110.

5. Randle PJ, Newsome EA, Garland PB. Regulation of glucose uptake by muscle. Biochem J. 1964;93:652-665.

6. Poothullil J. Fullness of Fat Storage Capacity: An Alternative to Adipocyte Insulin Resistance. J Appl Res. 2001;1(1).

7. Petersen KF, et al. Reversal of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis, hepatic insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia by moderate weight reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2005;54:603-608.

⚠️ This content is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making changes to your treatment or lifestyle.

© 2025 Dr. John Poothullil. All rights reserved.