New research suggests that type 2 diabetes can be reversed.
According to a study conducted at Newcastle University in England, if people with the chronic condition lose weight and keep it off, they can actually reverse their diabetes and remain diabetes-free.
For this study, lead investigator Roy Taylor, professor of medicine and metabolism at the university, examined the effects of weight loss through healthy eating in 30 type 2 diabetic participants. All of the participants were required to eat only 600 to 700 calories per day for eight weeks. Over the course of the study, the participants lost an average of nearly 31 pounds and were able to maintain a steady weight for six months.
When the researchers assessed the participants' diabetes status, they found that diabetes was reversed in 12 participants who had the condition for less than a decade. These participants remained diabetes-free at the six-month mark. During this follow-up portion, the researchers also found that another patient had successfully reversed the condition as well.
"What we have shown is that it is possible to reverse your diabetes, even if you have had the condition for a long time, up to around 10 years. If you have had the diagnosis for longer than that, then don't give up hope - major improvement in blood sugar control is possible," Taylor said. "The study also answered the question that people often ask me - if I lose the weight and keep the weight off, will I stay free of diabetes? The simple answer is yes!"
Taylor added, "The bottom line is that if a person really wants to get rid of their Type 2 diabetes, they can lose weight, keep it off and return to normal. This is good news for people who are very motivated to get rid of their diabetes. But it is too early to regard this as suitable for everyone. That is a separate question and a major study is underway to answer this."
This study was not the first time that Taylor examined the link between weight loss and type 2 diabetes. In 2011, Taylor published a study that also found that weight loss can reverse type 2 diabetes. The study, however, did not determine whether or not the condition could be reversed for more than eight weeks.
Based on the findings of the most recent study, which was published in Diabetes Care, a trial involving 280 patients has already started. The trial, which is being funded by Diabetes UK, will examine whether or not diabetes can be reversed through weight loss.
