Type 2 diabetes is a scourge in the modern world.
Poor diet and health have meant the condition has ballooned in Australia, with an estimated 1.2 million people suffering from the condition.
Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and is a major contributor to kidney failure, lower limb amputation, heart attack, stroke and some cancers.
However, recent research shows there could be some super simple dietary changes that could put people on the path towards remission.
But the results are a bit of a rollercoaster, so read on.
The UK’s National Health Service’s (NHS) Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is showing some remarkable results. The program is a 12-month behavioural intervention to support weight loss
Analysis shows that the program is working to improve people’s diabetes control and support weight loss, with participants typically losing 7.2kg on average after one month, and an average of 13kg in three months.
How it works
Initially, patients are given low-calorie, total diet replacement products including soups and shakes consisting of 800 to 900 kilocalories daily for 12 weeks. During this time, participants replace all normal meals with these products.
As part of the program, participants are also given support about improving their diet when they return to normal food and simple tactics to keep the weight off with lifestyle changes such as enhancing their exercise levels.
As well as the considerable weight loss, about 30 per cent of participants put their type 2 diabetes status into remission as a result.
There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but it can be put into remission.
The diet is based on a study published in The Lancet that found that total diet replacement (TDR) can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes.
Holistic approach
NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity, Dr Clare Hambling said the programme provides a holistic and compassionate way to help people living with type 2 diabetes and weight problems or obesity.
“It’s brilliant that these findings show a large number of those who completed it [the program] have seen life-changing benefits including major weight loss and type 2 diabetes remission,” she said.
“We know obesity is one of the biggest threats to health in the UK and will be one of the biggest and most costly challenges for health systems globally, so seeing such encouraging outcomes from our program shows that obesity can be tackled head-on, and we’re looking forward to scoping any further expansion to this program in due course.”
However, it seems for some the program was a step too far. Of those who started the treatment for the research, only 55 per cent completed the full program.
According to the study, even this low figure does not take into account those who were referred to the program and never started or those who were offered the program in general practices but declined.
“The programme and intervention, therefore, are clearly not acceptable to everybody and must be considered as just one treatment pathway in a portfolio of potential options for weight loss, including other dietary strategies, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery,” the report stated.
More than 25,000 people have taken part in the scheme since it was launched in 2020. In May this year, NHS officials said the diet would be offered across England to 50,000 people across five years.
Would you try this program? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: Nine superfoods to help you manage diabetes
Seems like it works but the liquid diet seems dire. Don’t think I could do it.
Did this diet prior to lap band surgery about 12 years ago. It works, but was quite expensive.
It seems ok to write an article which offers so much hope, but how do we access this life changing episode ?
Jan, you build this up, then bang ! Nothing.
Don’t understand, sorry.
This really gets me all these people coming up with cures for Diabetes, once your pancreas stops producing enough insulin there isn’t anything that will make it pick up production again unless it’s a successful transplant of a fully working one.
It is not that complicated! Just go low carb for goodness sake.