Dr. Ahmet Ergin is a physician dedicated to transforming diabetes management through a holistic and functional medicine approach. Drawing from his medical training and valuable patient feedback, he recognized the need for non-medication options and lifestyle education, which inspired him to establish SugarMD. Dr. Ergin emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, and is committed to empowering individuals with knowledge and tools for better health. With a focus on creating a supportive community, he also shares insights through his social media, especially YouTube channel, guiding followers toward healthier lifestyle choices.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start my day early, around 5:30 or 6:00 A.M., beginning with prayer, which sets a positive tone. I spend time with my wife, help with my kids’ morning routine, and then head to the gym—taking care of myself and my family is essential for a productive day. After a cold shower, I see patients at my clinic, where my days are very busy. In the evening, I review emails and delegate tasks, trusting my team to execute without micromanaging. I end my day with family time, keeping work minimal during weekends. I believe having a structured plan is key to getting things done effectively.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life by setting clear intentions, believing in myself, and taking consistent, purposeful action. When I was a medical student in Turkey, people doubted my goal of training at Cleveland Clinic, but I stayed focused, worked hard, and eventually achieved that fellowship. I believe that with the right intentions, approach, and confidence, any idea is achievable—it’s about setting high standards and pushing forward, no matter the doubts.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m excited by new developments in functional medicine. We’re rediscovering practices from over a century ago, before modern medicine, which brings fresh insights. Each new trend in this area energizes me, and I’m always eager to learn and follow these advancements.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
One habit that boosts my productivity is going to the gym daily—it keeps my energy up. I’d also add having a nutritious breakfast and good sleep, as these three habits together help me stay productive and focused as an entrepreneur.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To my younger self, I’d advise being more patient and courageous, and to start pursuing my current path earlier. I’ve realized that life teaches valuable lessons over time, and I now understand why experience is so respected. Having a mentor would have been invaluable, as I navigated much on my own. Everyone can benefit from a good guide when they’re young.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
In the realm of diet, I find my integrative approach often controversial. Unlike many, I don’t support strict, extreme diets like keto or carnivore, which I see as unsustainable. When I promote balanced eating—including whole foods like apples—I encounter strong opposition from people loyal to specific diets. The diet world can feel polarized, almost like political or religious factions, where each group believes only their approach is right. While I support a Mediterranean-style diet, I emphasize balance, which sometimes stirs intense debates.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
One of my most effective strategies is my YouTube channel, which plays a crucial role in fostering a loyal following. By offering valuable and informative content, I encourage viewers to return and make purchases, confident that they are receiving quality insights. Prioritizing brand building and cultivating trust within the community has been instrumental in the success of SugarMD.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed or unfocused, I turn to three key habits to reset: a quick workout, a nutritious snack, and a moment to center myself. Exercise helps clear my mind and boost my energy, while a balanced snack keeps me fueled. Taking a moment to step back and refocus often restores my clarity, allowing me to tackle challenges with a refreshed perspective.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One highly effective marketing strategy I use is my YouTube channel. It helps build a loyal following by providing valuable content, which encourages viewers to return and make purchases, knowing they’re receiving quality and useful insights.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One failure I experienced as an entrepreneur was an unexpected recall of our most popular product last year. It completely caught us off guard and resulted in significant business losses. However, this setback turned into a valuable learning opportunity for us as a company. We took the experience to heart and developed a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the product, ensuring we implement all necessary precautions to prevent a similar issue in the future.
Although we haven’t yet reintroduced the product to the market, we are taking our time to ensure everything is thoroughly addressed. Many companies face recalls, but as a small business, we are committed to learning from this experience to avoid repeating it. Our goal for 2025 is to fully recover from the impact of the recall by putting the appropriate measures in place.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
If I were starting a business from scratch, I would focus on something I’m passionate about in the medical field, specifically writing an informative book that is accessible and digestible for a broad audience. I believe there’s a great opportunity to create a business around this book, offering additional resources and support related to the topics covered.
Trust is a significant factor for customers, especially in the healthcare space. Starting a company without a solid foundation can be challenging, as new businesses often struggle to gain credibility. I understand the customer’s perspective—why should they trust a new product or service?
Therefore, I would prioritize becoming an authority in my field before launching any business. This involves conducting thorough research, understanding the market, and engaging with potential customers to grasp their needs and concerns. Once I establish credibility and a deep understanding of the industry, I would then launch a business that aligns with my expertise and the insights gained from my research.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
One piece of software that helps me be productive in this business is AI. It enables me to extract and organize data quickly, streamlining many of my tasks. For example, using AI in my email management allows me to get things done much faster, conserving both mental energy and time. Instead of spending 30 minutes on a task, I can simply instruct the AI to handle it, making my workflow much more efficient.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution. I realized just how challenging it is, even for a physician, to manage diabetes. There were moments where I felt lost and unsure of the next steps, and I thought about how confusing it must be for someone outside the medical field to navigate this. That experience really inspired me to share my knowledge and empower others who are living with diabetes—especially those with type 2, which is much more common than type 1. Focusing on holistic choices felt like the right path to help our clients and audience better manage their health and feel supported.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
When I watch a movie, it’s usually to enjoy some quality time with my kids at the theater. The last movie we saw together was the latest Despicable Me, and I really enjoyed it because it was a fun, shared family experience.
Key learnings
- Holistic Diabetes Management: Dr. Ergin emphasizes a holistic, functional medicine approach to diabetes management, inspired by patient feedback and his medical training. He founded SugarMD to offer non-medication options and lifestyle education, focusing particularly on empowering individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- Building a Trustworthy Brand: He highlights the importance of establishing credibility and trust with customers in the healthcare space, advocating for thorough research and community engagement before launching a business.
- Effective Content Strategy: Dr. Ergin utilizes his YouTube channel to build a loyal following by providing valuable content, which not only fosters community but also drives product purchases.
- Learning from Setbacks: After facing a significant recall of a popular product, Dr. Ergin turned the experience into a learning opportunity, developing strategies to prevent future issues and aiming for a full recovery by 2025.
- Commitment to Patient Care: Dr. Ergin draws inspiration from the Hippocratic Oath, emphasizing the responsibility of medical professionals to prioritize patient well-being. He integrates Hippocrates’ teachings on nutrition and gut health into his practice, advocating for balanced dietary choices and holistic health approaches to empower individuals with diabetes while reinforcing the ethical obligation to help those in need.