Hunger for diabetes
An extreme diet has been developed that will help cure diabetes
Yulia Vorobyova, Vesti
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is curable. This statement was made by researchers from Newcastle University (UK).
In their opinion, it is not necessary to live with this disease all your life, denying yourself something or making permanent injections. It is enough just to "sit out" on one, frankly, rather extreme diet.
A research group led by Professor Roy Taylor invited 300 people to participate in a clinical study of diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial, or DiRECT).
The volunteers were of different ages (from 20 to 65 years old), and all of them were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years before the start of the study, according to the press release Type 2 diabetes is not for life.
The participants were randomly divided into two groups. The first (experimental) followed the weight management program developed by scientists, and the second (control) received standard treatment prescribed by doctors.
People from the first group had to limit the number of calories consumed: their diet consisted mainly of soups and "healthy cocktails". As a result, for three to five months, participants consumed no more than 850 calories per day.
Then the diet was replenished with regular food: the participants returned to the usual foods gradually, over a period of two to eight weeks. At the same time, they also underwent various weight loss trainings and cognitive behavioral therapy to make it easier for them to change their lifestyle and adapt to new conditions.
As a result, 86% of the volunteers from the first group noticeably lost weight: an average of 10-15 kilograms. But the most interesting thing is that their disease has really gone into remission.
Moreover, the more patients lost weight, the faster the signs of diabetes receded. Among people who lost more than 15 kilograms, 90% began to recover, among those who lost 10 to 15 kilograms – 57%, and among those who lost 5-10 kilograms, remission was observed in 34% of participants.
The researchers considered remission to be the level of glycated hemoglobin in the blood that meets the recommendations of the International Diabetes Federation – less than 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) for 12 months, and at least two months – without any medications for type 2 diabetes - VM.
Meanwhile, in the control group, only 4% of the volunteers showed improvements, all the rest did not have any improvements.
Let's add that the clinical trial started about two years ago. Scientists have reported the results only now, because they have observed changes in the health status of patients.
According to the authors, remission after weight loss in volunteers from the experimental group is still observed, and the lost kilograms are in no hurry to come back. Moreover, the volunteers did not take any medications during the experiment and after it.
It is also noted that during the diet, the participants lived their normal lives and did not increase physical activity. But after that, when the body began to receive enough energy again, the volunteers were advised not to forget about moderate physical exertion.
Interestingly, during the diet, side effects (for example, pain or abdominal cramps) were observed only in 4% of cases. Doctors did not note any deterioration of health associated with low-calorie nutrition.
Now Taylor and his colleagues boldly say that diabetes is not a chronic disease, to which patients were previously "sentenced to life."
Of course, if people in remission suddenly want to switch to fast food or celebrate the cure with a cake, the consequences for them will be quite obvious. But at this stage, all participants speak enthusiastically about the program and are not going to miss the chance to overcome the disease completely, scientists say.
"I had type 2 diabetes for two to three years before starting the study. I took various medications, the doses grew, but the disease was still constantly progressing. I was not afraid to take part in the experiment. And when they told me that my pancreas was working again, it was fantastic, absolutely amazing. I don't think of myself as a diabetic anymore: I am one of the lucky ones who went into remission," says 65–year-old Isobel Murray, a participant in the program.
The results of this work can radically change the principles of diabetes treatment, Roy Taylor believes.
"Significant weight loss leads to a decrease in fat in the liver and pancreas, which allows these organs to return to normal operation. During the DiRECT program, we saw that weight loss is not just associated with some improvements in the condition of patients: in fact, it can lead to a cure for diabetes," the scientist concludes.
Experts will continue to monitor the study participants to assess the long-term effects of the new method (and possibly side effects). In addition, the researchers plan to study in more detail what specific processes in the body that consumes a minimum of calories contribute to lowering blood glucose levels and triggering the pancreas.
The results of the inspiring work are published in The Lancet.
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