Type 2 diabetes really can be REVERSED by losing weight: Effects last five years, trial confirms

By Liam On Apr 18, 2023

A soup and shake diet rolled out on the NHS could reverse type 2 diabetes for at least five years, new research has shown.

Nearly a quarter of people who were in remission from diabetes two years after starting a low-calorie diet were still free of the condition three years later.

Experts say it is further evidence that lifestyle changes rather than medication can help beat the disease, described last week as a ‘rapidly escalating crisis’ in the UK.

They believe losing weight and keeping it off is the key to curing the serious condition, which has increased alongside obesity over the past decade.

The latest findings are a continuation of the original study that reduced the number of diabetes cases by nearly half in those who followed the year-long program.

As part of the program, participants receive a low-calorie, nutritious complete soup and shake diet totaling approximately 800 calories per day for 12 to 20 weeks. They also receive support from a nurse or dietitian to reintroduce healthy foods and maintain weight loss while taking medications for type 2 diabetes and blood pressure. The new study data showed that nearly a quarter of people who were in remission of diabetes two years after starting the low-calorie diet were still free of the condition three years later

Due to its early success, more than 2,000 people have so far started treatment under the NHS England low-calorie diet programme, which is offered by around half of England’s health authorities.

The full expansion of the program is expected to be completed by March next year, and doctors hope it will save tens of thousands of people from developing the condition each year.

As part of the program, participants receive a low-calorie, nutritious complete soup and shake diet totaling approximately 800 calories per day for 12 to 20 weeks.

They also receive support from a nurse or dietitian to reintroduce healthy foods and maintain weight loss while taking medications for type 2 diabetes and blood pressure.

At the end of the original two-year study, 95 of the 149 people in the weight-loss program agreed to participate in a three-year follow-up study.

WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood sugar level becomes too high.

It is believed that over 4 million people in the UK have some form of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with being overweight and you are more likely to get it if it runs in your family.

The condition means that the body doesn’t respond properly to insulin — the hormone that controls the absorption of sugar into the blood — and can’t properly regulate sugar glucose levels in the blood.

Excess fat in the liver increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the buildup makes it harder to control glucose levels and also makes the body more resistant to insulin.

Weight loss is key to reducing liver fat and getting symptoms under control.

Symptoms include fatigue, thirst, and frequent urination.

It can lead to more serious problems with nerves, eyesight and the heart.

Treatment usually involves changing your diet and lifestyle, but more severe cases may require medication.

Source: NHS Choices; Diabetes.nl

These new data show that of these, 48 were in remission at the start of the extension study, and 23 percent of them were still in remission three years later — having managed to lose weight.

The number of people who were in remission five years after the start of the original study was more than three times that of the control group, who just received usual primary care.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, research director at Diabetes UK who funded the study, said the new findings confirm it is possible to stay in long-term remission.

She said: ‘For those who put type 2 diabetes into remission, it can be life-changing and provide a better chance for a healthier future.

“For those who can’t go into remission, losing weight can still lead to major health benefits, including improved blood sugar levels and a reduced risk of serious diabetes complications such as heart attack and stroke.”

The findings reinforced that remission was closely linked to weight loss, with those who managed to maintain a healthy weight being more likely to keep things clear.

Anyone who gained more than just over 2 kg in years three to five of the study was offered an additional support package, available once a year.

This consisted of the low-calorie soups and shake diet for another four weeks, followed by help reintroducing normal meals.

Compared to the control group, those who diet and provided support had greater improvements in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and fewer people required medication.

Also, the rate of serious health problems leading to hospitalization in the diet group was less than half that in the control group.

The findings come a week after it was revealed that the number of diabetes cases in the UK may have passed 5 million for the first time.

According to figures, nearly 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021-2022, while another 850,000 people were living with the condition but not knowing they had it.

About 90 percent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which is related to obesity and usually diagnosed in middle age, rather than type 1 diabetes, a genetic condition usually diagnosed early in life.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, Head of Diabetes and Obesity at NHS England, said: ‘The NHS is already making the most of this research for patients through our low-calorie diet programme, which has shown fantastic initial results; and we plan to expand the scheme nationwide, giving thousands more the opportunity to shed the pounds and improve their health.

With participants losing an average of more than two stones in three months, and maintaining that weight loss after six months, rolling out low-calorie diets on the NHS could help many more people turn the tide for type 2 diabetes and potentially lower their risk of serious consequences. for the health.’