
Lose 10-15 kg weight and reverse diabetes, says study by UK scientists
NEW DELHI: Type 2 diabetes can be reversed if you can lose weight radically, according to a study by UK scientists who managed to reverse the chronic condition in nearly half the participants who followed their weight management programme. All participants had been diagnosed with the condition within the past six years.
The results published in the international journal, The Lancet, show remission of diabetes was closely related to the degree of weight loss+ . As many as 86% of participants who achieved at least 15kg of weight loss had beaten back the disease while 73% of those with weight loss of 10kg or more had the same result.
Why it's a big deal: Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all cases
Doctors withdrew the anti-diabetic and antihypertensive drugs of those opting for weight loss for diabetes remission. They were put on a total diet replacement phase for three months thereafter, extendable up to five months if wished by participant. During this period, the patients were given a low energy formula diet (825 - 853 kcal/day).
This was followed by structured food reintroduction of two to eight weeks and an ongoing structured programme with monthly visits for long-term weight loss maintenance. There was no increase in physical activity during total diet replacement.
TOI spoke to top endocrinologists in Delhi who held the findings as pathbreaking and of far reaching consequence. "With knowledge of remarkable results from this study, we could remove 'Diabetic for life' label from many patients," said Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-doc hospital for diabetes.
There a
Continue
reading