Why A1C & Glucose Rise on Carnivore (+How to Fix it)

About this video

Kane talks with Jay Feldman about why A1C and fasting glucose sometimes rise on carnivore and low-carb diets. Feldman argues insulin resistance is fundamentally a mitochondrial problem — the cell’s ’engines’ failing to burn incoming fuel, so glucose backs up into the blood — and calls carb restriction a band-aid that hides the overflow without fixing the engines. When carbs are removed, he says, stress hormones including cortisol, glucagon, and adrenaline trigger the liver to manufacture glucose, which can push readings up; Kane reports some of her clients saw blood sugar drop 50–100 points within weeks of adding carbs back. Feldman describes his own approach: four meals a day pairing a protein with fruit, roots, or starch, while avoiding nuts, seeds, and most grains, which he says are high in polyunsaturated fats and antinutrients.

Key takeaways

• Jay Feldman claims insulin resistance is rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction — cells unable to use incoming fuel
• He calls low-carb dieting a band-aid: markers improve because less fuel arrives, not because the underlying problem is fixed
• Feldman says carb removal triggers stress hormones that drive the liver to produce glucose, raising A1C for some people
• Kane reports clients whose blood sugar fell 50–100 points within a week or two of reintroducing carbohydrates
• Feldman eats four meals daily, each pairing a protein source with fruit, roots, or some starch
• He advises avoiding nuts and seeds over PUFA and antinutrient content, and cooking vegetables rather than eating them raw

Episode details: published July 11, 2024 · 76.8K views · 50:58 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The health and nutrition claims described are Lillie Kane’s or her guests’, presented for education — not medical advice. Kane is a certified nutrition health coach, not a physician. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

← Previous: Animal-Based Diet What I Eat on Vacation: 3-Day Meal Plan · Next: 8 Signs You’re Low in Fat (+ My Fat Formula) →

All Lillie Kane videos · Lillie Kane profile · Lillie Kane (official site)