Wise Traditions

For decades, Dr. Steve Hughlett worked as a hospital pharmacist, helping patients manage chronic disease with medications. Then a deep dive into the nutrition research changed the course of his career. What he discovered convinced him that many of the chronic illnesses filling hospitals today have more to do with what people eat than with a lack of prescription drugs. In this episode, Dr. Hughlett explains why he believes insulin—not blood sugar—is one of the most important markers of metabolic health and why understanding its role can change the way we think about type 2 diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, and many other chronic conditions. He discusses how modern eating patterns keep insulin chronically elevated, why processed foods are designed to keep us coming back for more, and how real, nutrient-dense foods can help restore metabolic health. The conversation also explores how definitions of chronic disease have changed over time, the difference between treating symptoms and addressing root causes,