The Doc Talk Podcast

More than four million people in Canada are living with diabetes and one of the most common questions after a diagnosis is also one of the most confusing: What am I actually supposed to eat?
Between social media nutrition advice, restrictive diets, conflicting messages about carbohydrates, and the growing use of medications like GLP-1s, figuring out what belongs on your plate can feel complicated.
In this episode of The Doc Talk, we're joined by Mairlyn Smith, Professional Home Economist, award-winning cookbook author and host of In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada, and Cayla Runka, Registered Dietitian and Manager of Knowledge and Connection at Diabetes Canada.
Together, they cut through some of the noise around food and diabetes and talk about what sustainable, enjoyable eating can actually look like.
In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada
Mairlyn also gives us a look inside In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada, a free, live four-week virtual cooking and nutrition series running this fall.
Participants can cook along, learn practical strategies for preparing balanced meals, and have nutrition questions answered by experts in real time.
Find the program at diabetes.ca/inthekitchen.
You can also find Diabetes Canada's free handy portion guide and balanced plate resources, their online community Diabetes Canada Connect, and their virtual diabetes education program at diabetes.ca.
Our Prescription for Health
Managing diabetes doesn't mean eating perfectly or abandoning the foods that matter to you. Start with sustainable changes to your overall eating pattern, build meals around balance, protein and fibre, and look for ways to adapt the foods you already know and love.
For healthcare professionals: when starting someone on a GLP-1 medication, consider pairing the medication conversation with practical nutrition guidance rather than simply advising them to "eat less." And when patients need more education and support than can fit into a clinic visit, Diabetes Canada's free programs can be useful resources to have on hand.
This episode is brought to you by Diabetes Canada.
Resources:
Diabetes Canada: diabetes.ca
In The Kitchen with Diabetes Canada: diabetes.ca/inthekitchen
Virtual Diabetes Education Program: diabetes.ca/VDEP 
In this episode, we discuss:
Why nutrition misinformation around diabetes is so common
Where to start if you've just been diagnosed with diabetes
Why diabetes management is about your overall eating pattern, not one individual food or meal
Nutrition considerations for people taking GLP-1 medications, including getting enough protein and fibre as appetite and portions decrease
Why you don't have to give up your favourite cultural or family foods
Why healthy cooking can feel difficult, and ways to make it more realistic
Practical, trustworthy resources for people living with diabetes and the healthcare professionals supporting them
Disclaimer: 
The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak with your own healthcare provider about questions related to your personal health needs.

Blood tests. Full-body MRIs. Biological age kits. Inflammation panels. Hormone testing. It seems like you can test everything in the name of longevity, if you’re willing to pay for it.
But does having more health data actually make you healthier?
In Part 2 of our longevity series, we’re taking on testing and once again sorting it into three buckets: Meh, Maybe and Definitely.
We look at everything from the basic tests you may already be getting through primary care to some of the much pricier testing showing up in longevity clinics and on social media.
And for every test, we ask one simple question:
If I know this number, will it actually change what I do?
We also talk about the potential downside of testing too much and why finding something earlier isn't automatically helpful if finding it doesn't actually improve your health.
So before you spend hundreds (or thousands) on a longevity workup, give this one a listen.
And if you missed it, start with Part 1: Longevity: Meh, Maybe or Definitely? What Actually Works, where we tackle the lifestyle side of living longer and healthier.
Helpful resources
Osteoporosis Canada: osteoporosis.ca
Evidence-based information on bone health, osteoporosis risk and bone density testing.
Choosing Wisely Canada: choosingwiselycanada.org
Great Canadian resource on when medical tests and treatments are and aren't likely to help.
Diabetes Canada: diabetes.ca
Information on diabetes risk, screening and prevention.
Canadian Cancer Society: cancer.ca
Information on cancer screening and screening programs across Canada.
Heart & Stroke: heartandstroke.ca
Resources on blood pressure, cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.
Follow us @thedoctalkpod and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Thanks to our Season 3 sponsor FIGS. Head to wearfigs.com and use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order.
The Doc Talk is for general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. While we're doctors, we're not your doctor. Speak with your own healthcare provider about your individual health needs.

Welcome to Season 3 of The Doc Talk! 
Longevity is everywhere right now. NAD+. Peptides. Rapamycin. Cold plunges. CGMs. Creatine. Sauna. Supplements. Everyone seems to have a protocol...and something to sell you.
But what’s actually backed by evidence?
We’re kicking off Season 3 with a two-part series on longevity, and first up: what we do (and don’t) know about the things people are doing to live longer and healthier.
We’re putting some of the biggest longevity trends into three buckets: Meh, Maybe and Definitely.
Which ones have great marketing but not much human evidence? Which ones are genuinely promising? And which decidedly unsexy habits still beat most of the expensive longevity hacks?
We also get into where the science is evolving, when “we don’t know yet” is actually the right answer, and why something changing a biomarker doesn’t necessarily mean it changes how well, or how long you live.
If you’re spending time, energy or money trying to optimize your health, this is the episode to listen to before adding one more thing to your routine.
And this is only Part 1. We had so much to share, we split it into two separate episodes.
Follow us @thedoctalkpod and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Thanks to our Season 3 sponsor FIGS. Head to wearfigs.com and use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order.
The Doc Talk is for general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. While we're doctors, we're not your doctor. Speak with your own healthcare provider about your individual health needs.

Episode Overview
In this season finale, Dr. Shaz and Dr. Sheila answer your most pressing questions about GLP-1 medications and peptides from safety and side effects to menopause, mental health, and the exciting frontier of emerging research. Whether you're brand new to the Ozempic conversation or already on a GLP-1 and hitting a plateau, this episode covers it all.
We Cover:
GLP-1 Basics
What GLP-1 stands for and how it works as a natural gut hormone
Why these medications are so much more powerful than your body's own GLP-1
Why GLP-1s are having a cultural moment right now — and what the science actually says
Peptides explained: what they are, how they differ from approved GLP-1 medications, and why the regulatory and safety picture is more complex
Your Questions Answered: 
We collected your incredible questions from safety to duration, microdosing, what happens if you plateau and the potential benefits of these medications beyond weight loss.  
This episode marks the end of an incredible season. Thank you so much for listening, for sending in your questions, and for trusting us with your health conversations. We'll see you in Season 3.
This season is brought to you by FIGS: scrubs, compression socks, work bags, and loungewear for healthcare workers and beyond. Use code FIGSDOCTALK at wearfigs.com for 20% off your first order.
Connect With Us: 
Follow us on social: @thedoctalkpod
Like, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen
Disclaimer: The Doc Talk is for general informational purposes only and does not replace advice from your personal healthcare provider. Shaz and Sheila are doctors, but they are not your doctor.

In this episode, we’re tackling a question that feels increasingly common and increasingly urgent: If you don’t have a family doctor and you’re getting your health advice online, how do you know who to trust?
With nearly nine in ten Canadians turning to the internet for health information, this isn’t surprising. Access to care is limited for many, and people are looking for answers wherever they can find them. But what we’re seeing in clinic and in the ER is that misinformation is no longer harmless. It’s changing decisions and, in some cases, causing real harm.
We walk through some of the myths we’re actually hearing from patients right now, from vaginal steaming and detoxes to high-dose vitamin D, “natural” cancer cures, and ongoing fears around vaccines and fertility. These conversations aren’t theoretical. They’re showing up in delayed diagnoses, complications from supplements, and patients stopping medications that were protecting them from serious outcomes.
This episode isn’t about shaming people for going online. It’s about understanding why they’re there in the first place, and giving you practical tools to navigate that space more safely. We talk about the red flags to watch for, what credible information actually looks like, and why confidence and popularity don’t equal accuracy.
At its core, this is bigger than individual choices. Health misinformation is a public health issue. It affects trust, access, and outcomes, especially for communities already facing barriers to care.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what to believe, this episode is for you. 
Disclaimer
A reminder that The Doc Talk is for general information purposes only. This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak to your own healthcare provider for questions related to your personal health needs. 
Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.