Joy Erdile, MSc, RD

Introduction People come to me with different goals concerning type 2 diabetes. Many people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes come to see me to help them put their diabetes into remission, so they no longer meet the criteria for diagnosis. As stated throughout this website and on my forms, I do not … Read more

Introduction I was excited when I saw a thread on social media over the weekend about Diabetes Canada’s new 7-day Low Carb Meal Plan. After all, last May they released a Position Statement summarizing the evidence for the role of low carbohydrate diets (<51-130g carbohydrate/day) and very low-carbohydrate diets (<50g carbohydrate/day) in the management of … Read more

Introduction Several recent studies have found a relationship between the species of bacteria and fungi that live in our large intestine, carbohydrate intake, and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. This article elaborates on how this knowledge may help improve symptoms for those with IBD. The Gut Microbiome & Mycobiome The … Read more

Introduction The myth persists that a “keto” diet followed for weight loss or improved metabolic health is all about the fat…bacon, heavy whipping cream, and fat bombs. It’s about adding butter and MCT oil to coffee, about eating fatty cuts of meat and lots of avocado. It isn’t. What makes a diet “low carb” or … Read more

Introduction News outlets highlight when someone has died of complications of COVID-19, stressing that the person “had no underlying health conditions“, but the problem is that this is often assumed, not assessed. Just because a person wasn’t diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure does not mean that they have no underlying health … Read more

Introduction One of the more frustrating things that I experience as a Dietitian who works with people with food allergy is when people come to me with a lab report listing foods they are ‘allergic’ to—only for me to get a multi-page report that they paid $650-750 out of pocket for, and which measures IgG … Read more

Note: This article was originally posted on November 6, 2020 and was updated and reposted on November 27, 2025. Introduction Historically, studies have shown that more than half of weight loss is regained within 2 years, and more than 80% of weight loss is regained by 5 years [1]. Recent data indicate that within 1 … Read more

Introduction This post comes out of some recent lively discussion on social media where I was challenged to reconsider my position that a low-carbohydrate or keto diet can put people into remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but does not reverse it, and is not a cure. The discussion centred around whether metabolic diseases may … Read more

Introduction In addition to the several types of therapeutic ketogenic diets, such as the Classic Ketogenic Diet (KD) used in the treatment of epilepsy, there is another type of therapeutic ketogenic diet used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for weight loss. This is referred to in the clinical literature as a Very … Read more

Introduction There is a common but mistaken belief that there is such a thing as “THE keto diet” (singular)—which is high in fat of all types, including cream, butter, bacon, and fatty cuts of meat. In fact, there are a wide range of “keto diets” (plural), including several different therapeutic ones as well as those … Read more

Introduction I’ve heard other Dietitians say that the keto diet is potentially dangerous because it focuses on ‘high intakes of processed meat, butter and cream’. Some have said harmful effects were seen years later, including newly diagnosed diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, clinical evidence suggests these conditions often develop years before a … Read more

Introduction The recommendation to lower the consumption of saturated fat in the diet to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been a central theme in both the US and Canada since 1977. However, a landmark report published by the American College of Cardiology has stated that there is no beneficial effect on either … Read more

Introduction WorkSafeBC has released the requirements for regulated health professionals, such as Dietitians, to safely run an in-person clinical practice in British Columbia during the COVID-19 outbreak. These protocols are much more involved than initially imagined and are in addition to obligations prescribed by our professional college and the provincial health officer. Understanding the Risk … Read more

Introduction Diabetes Canada has just released a new Position Statement acknowledging that a low carb and very low carb (keto) diet is both safe and effective for adults with diabetes. Reflecting back on their 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines, Diabetes Canada clarified that it was not their intention to restrict the choice of individuals with diabetes … Read more

Introduction Governments around the world are beginning to relax lock-down measures put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are looking forward to life ‘getting back to normal,’ but how soon will that happen? In British Columbia, we are expecting the restoration of some medically-related services under enhanced protocols starting in mid-May [1]. What … Read more

Introduction A study published in the journal Cell Metabolism has reported that people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at much greater risk of having a poor outcome in COVID-19 if they have poorly controlled blood glucose. This study analyzed data from over 7,300 people hospitalized in Hubei Province, China, specifically comparing those with well-controlled … Read more

Introduction A new large-scale study looking at data from more than 4,000 COVID-19 patients in New York City found that outside of older age (>75 years), obesity was the single most significant risk factor contributing to hospitalization and critical care [1]. This reinforces findings that in people under the age of 60, obesity poses a … Read more

Introduction As covered in the preceding article, we now know from US data between March 1-30, 2020, that older adults and those with hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes, and CVD are at an increased risk of requiring hospitalization should they contract Covid-19, but a new study finds that so are young people with obesity. … Read more

Introduction It is well-known that older adults are at greater risk of complications from COVID-19, but few realize that the majority of those hospitalized in the US [1] have common underlying medical conditions. These comorbid conditions include high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. While we focus on physical distancing and hygiene, we must … Read more

Introduction Note: This article is a follow-up to previous reports regarding the presence of COVID-19 in Vancouver and federal recommendations for outbreak preparedness. On February 24, 2020, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry identified a seventh case of COVID-19 in BC. This case involves a man in his 40s who was a close contact of … Read more

Introduction Note: This article is a follow-up to previous reports regarding COVID-19 in the Vancouver area. This article includes updates posted on February 23rd, 2020. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry announced on February 20th that a woman in her 30s returning from Iran is British Columbia’s sixth case of the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. This case … Read more