According to a recent study from Newcastle University, there is a possibility to reverse Type 2 diabetes and also to do that for the long term.
The statistics say that in the United States around 90 million people have prediabetes and over 30 million have type 2 diabetes.
So, is it possible to reverse type 2 diabetes?
Research About Reversing Diabetes
According to previous research done by Professor Roy Taylor, FRCP, MD, in order to reverse Type 2 Diabetes you need to follow a diet that will include only 800 calories on a daily basis.
This research was published in 2011. However, it is not sure whether you can reverse Type 2 diabetes with this kind of diet, simply because the research lasted only around 8 weeks.
In fact, Professor Roy Taylor along with his team worked with around 30 people.
These people had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes from 6 months to around 23 years. Furthermore, these people were all obese.
Proper Restricted Diet
In the first 8 weeks, the participants consumed 3 diet shakes on a daily basis, plus around 240 g of non-starchy vegetables. The sum-up of that was around 600 to 700 calories on a daily basis.
After those 8 weeks, gradually they started consuming solid food, but at the weight-maintaining levels of around 1,600 to 2,000 calories on a daily basis.
Or to be more accurate, that is one-third less of the usual amount they had eaten before they started with the study.
The participants during those 6 months were seen at least once a month, and they had their own weight maintenance program.
In general, the participants lost around 31 pounds, and during that study period of six months, they did not regain any weight. Yes, most of them remained obese despite all the weight they lost.
However, 12 of the 30 participants actually reversed Type 2 diabetes and remained free from diabetes even six months later.
These 12 people got their diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes within the last ten years.
And after 6 months, another participant reversed diabetes, which sums up to 13 participants.
According to the researchers, these participants lost enough weight to remove the fat from their pancreas and to restore the normal function of the insulin.
According to Taylor, he proved is possible to reverse type 2 diabetes if you have it for 10 years or less.
And in case you have a diagnosis longer than 10 years, there is no need to lose hope, because a proper diet can help improve the control of blood sugar.
Furthermore, Taylor says that if people lose weight and keep it off that will help them to get rid of diabetes. He believes that his study confirms that.
The opinion of Obesity Expert
According to Arya M.Sharma, MD, an obesity expert, who was not part of this study, it is proof-of-principle research.
Sharma says that it shows that if you lose weight, there is a good chance to reverse your diabetes. But the study also suggests that if you regain your weight that also means that diabetes will return.
Currently, there is a new study underway. This is a larger study that includes around 280 participants.
The goal of this study is to determine whether with the loss of weight people will actually reverse their Type 2 diabetes.
These participants will be under the care of their family nurse and doctor. This sounds very promising, and it is one step forward.
Source Medical News Today | Diabetes Strong | Diabetes Care
