
Research spotlight – putting Type 2 diabetes into remission
Low-calorie weight management programmes
Our scientists are busy researching a new weight management treatment, which includes a low-calorie diet, to help people put their Type 2 diabetes into remission. The study is called DiRECT, short for Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial, and it could completely change the way Type 2 diabetes is treated in the future.
A year into the research and we've made a breakthrough – and we’re excited to share the news with you.
Here's Tony talking about being in the study and Professor Roy Taylor revealing what the results could mean.
Results so far
The first year results are hugely promising. They show that it’s possible for some people to put their Type 2 diabetes into remission using a low-calorie, diet-based, weight management programme, delivered by their GP. Almost half (45.6%) of those who took part in the programme were in remission after a year.
The study found there was a close link between Type 2 diabetes remission and total weight loss. 86% of people who lost more than 15kg on the programme were in remission after a year, as were 57% of people who lost 10 to 15kg, and 34% who lost 5 to 10kg.
In the comparison group, where people had the best diabetes care currently available, but didn't try the new weight management approach, only 4% went into remission.
But what does remission actually mean? It’s when blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels are in a normal range again. This doesn’t mean diabetes has gone for good. It’s still really important for people in remission to get regular healthcare checks, so any complications can
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