MedicalXpress: 10-15% weight loss gives chance to get rid of type 2 diabetes

During the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), scientists from Newcastle University reported that one in ten people with type 2 diabetes in the UK is of normal weight, and doctors usually recommend them not to reduce it. In their research paper, experts assessed whether reducing body weight could improve outcomes in this group of patients, reports MedicalXpress.

The study involved 12 men and women with type 2 diabetes who had no weight problems - the average BMI was 24.5. For several weeks, the volunteers were on a strict diet, eating low-calorie soups and smoothies and consuming no more than 800 calories a day.

After three cycles of the program, participants lost 10-15% of their weight, averaging 8.2 kg. They had a significant reduction in total body fat and in particular in the liver and pancreas. Researchers also noted a reduction in triglyceride levels, one of the important markers of cardiovascular disease risk, to control values.

Moreover, in 8 of the 12 participants (67%), diabetes went into remission, meaning blood sugar levels normalized without medication. The study authors reported that these results are consistent with the findings of previous research papers.

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