On March 23, now 40 years ago, Dr Gary Fettke's mother died as the result of lifestyle related disease.
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On Saturday the orthopaedic surgeon dedicated a presentation on how to reverse type 2 diabetes, to her.
Dr Fettke was one of three guest speakers at Bring Back the Fat - a forum aimed at dispelling the myths around low carbohydrate, healthy fat diets and diabetes.
The event, held at the Tailrace Centre at Riverside, was attended by more than 400 people and had one clear message: it's not too late to take control of your health.
After being sanctioned by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in 2016 against providing nutritional information to patients, Dr Fettke was unable to speak to his patients or the public about nutrition.
In October last year, his name was formally cleared with AHPRA issuing a formal apology for errors made in dealing with claims against him.
On Saturday, Dr Fettke took the opportunity to thank his supporters.
"I stand here today only as the result of your support," he said.
"That case against me for giving nutritional advice started with me advising my patients to reduce their sugar.
"That's it. I will remain saying that there was never a case for patient harm, or patient complaint."
Diabetes remains a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
Lifestyle measures, including eating a healthy diet, have been proven effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.
However, Dr Fettke said there was still much confusion and disinformation about what constituted a healthy diet and what measures people should take to manage their diabetes.
"Should we be exercising more, well we know you can't outrun a bad diet," he said.
"Weight loss is far more about what you eat, rather than what you do and I think the same goes for diabetes.
"If you are trying to reverse obesity and diabetes, you are surrounded by so much disinformation.
"It is deliberate, misinformation to keep the message blurred and the consumer confused.
"It is the same tactics of the tobacco industry."
Dr Fettke said all Tasmanians could improve their health today, but they needed to become better informed.
"We are eating, living and dying by the traditional food pyramid and along the way we are looking like it," he said.
"The health system is bursting, just like our waistlines and our nutrition is both the problem and the answer."
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
