Radical diet can reverse type 2 diabetes, new study shows

[FarCenter]

A radical low-calorie diet can reverse type 2 diabetes, even six years into the disease, a new study has found.

The number of cases of type 2 diabetes is soaring, related to the obesity epidemic. Fat accumulated in the abdomen prevents the proper function of the pancreas. It can lead to serious and life-threatening complications, including blindness and foot amputations, heart and kidney disease.

A new study from Newcastle and Glasgow Universities shows that the disease can be reversed by losing weight, so that sufferers no longer have to take medication and are free of the symptoms and risks. Nine out of 10 people in the trial who lost 15kg (two-and-a-half stone or 33 pounds) or more put their type 2 diabetes into remission.

Prof Roy Taylor from Newcastle University, lead researcher in the trial funded by Diabetes UK, said: “These findings are very exciting. They could revolutionise the way type 2 diabetes is treated. This builds on the work into the underlying cause of the condition, so that we can target management effectively.

“Substantial weight loss results in reduced fat inside the liver and pancreas, allowing these organs to return to normal function. What we’re seeing … is that losing weight isn’t just linked to better management of type 2 diabetes: significant weight loss could actually result in lasting remission.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/05/radical-diet-can-reverse-type-2-diabetes-new-study-shows

[Farmer-Rick]

1. Yeah but the trick is how do you lose weight and keep it off

Since most people regain the weight they lose (even those people on Biggest losers). I've always said the first week of a low calorie diet is easy. It's day 30 and on, when you are so hungry that you would eat a horse, that's the real hard part.

[IronLionZion]

2. appetite suppressants and willpower

it sucks really bad, it's quite difficult.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. What you do to lose weight is generally how you

keep it off. Returning to your old lifestyle is what piles it back on.

I am doing ok in maintenance for now because I can walk and hike. If I ever get laid up, it would be tricky because I love the extra food that exercising gets me.

[enough]

4. I reversed a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes by following the Atkins diet for about

3 months. I followed the diet to the letter. Doctor monitored and agreed no more need for medication to control blood sugar. Lost some weight and now maintain with normal sane eating and exercise. It's been about 5 years.

[PADemD]

7. You dont have to starve on a low calorie diet.

You can eat all the protein and fats you want, just limit the carbs, starches, and sugar. There are many low-carb and filling recipes on the Internet.

Many people like to put ketchup on their eggs. One tablespoon of Ketchup has 5 grams of carbs and 4 grams of sugar. You can substitute 2 tablespoons of fresh Bruchetta, which has 2.1 grams of carbs and 0 grams of sugar.

Make chicken soup with chicken, chopped celery, chopped onion, and McCormick’s All Purpose Seasoning. Instead of adding rice or noodles, add one small package of chopped baby bela mushrooms. They taste good, and the soup is very filling.

For snacking, shelled roasted pumpkin seeds have 3 grams of total carbs and 0 grams of sugar.

Recommend reading Wheat Belly, by William Davis, MD.

[Farmer-Rick]

8. Yeah, I was kind of referring to low calorie diets

My better half and I went on Weight Watchers about 10 years ago and OMG, I think I would have eaten a shoe to stop the hunger pains. I was always, always, constantly, sooooo hungry. I finally just gave up after I lost about 10 pounds. My better half lasted another 30 days before she quit too. God that woman has will power.

Anyway we are doing low carb now and hunger isn't so much an issue.We are even doing some fasting and we don't have all that constant hunger. But no one tells you about hunger and low carb unless you research it.

And here is a weird thing, when I exercise, I actally gain weight and I'm no muscle bound fool. And no one tells you about that either.

[PADemD]

9. Please read the Wheat Belly book.

Dr. Davis explains why you can gain weight even though you exercise.

[Farmer-Rick]

16. You know I read the Always Hungry book by Dr. Ludwig

His is a modified low carb mostly wheat free diet with a lot of science on weight loss. Good reading but his diet didn't work for me. I had to go down to less than 50 carbs a day to lose any weight though it helped my blood sugar levels.

[PADemD]

19. Carbs/Day

I have been searching for the recommended number of carbs per day; and, for diabetics, the number is 30. It IS possible to meet that goal, without starving.

Another book I found helpful is Dennis Pollock’s 60 Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar, Simple Steps to Reduce the Carbs, Shed the Weight, and Feel Great Now.

[FarCenter]

15. Low carb and fasting have different effects

Low carb with restricted calories causes fat metabolism and weight reduction.

Fasting or low protein activates autophagy and the body scavenges amino acids by disassembling damaged cellular components and clearing cellular debris.

[Farmer-Rick]

17. Yeah, in my younger years I use to only eat one meal a day

And everyone said it was bad for me. Now there are doctors promoting it.

Go figure.

[JI7]

10. the goal shouldn't be to just lose weight but about making life long changes/choices

things like eating a healthy salad or soup first thing before a meal of high calorie food could help to eat less of the high calorie food since the soup/salad would make you feel full without having too many calories.

drink water .

i also recommed not cutting out any foods one enjoys . just limit how much you eat. if you tell yourself you can have the dessert at a certain date but not before that date it can help since you know you will eventually be able to have it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. This was over 4 to 6 months

The diet was a formula of 825–853 calories per day for 3 to 5 months, followed by the stepped reintroduction of food over two to eight weeks. The participants were all given support throughout, including cognitive behaviour therapy and were encouraged to exercise.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/05/radical-diet-can-reverse-type-2-diabetes-new-study-shows

(and from an earlier paragraph, it seems the increased exercise is only once they're reintroduced the food)

[fishwax]

5. vegetarian/vegan diets have been shown to counter type 2 diabetes as well

perhaps because they also tend to lead to the consumption of fewer calories ...

[spinbaby]

6. So does intermittent fasting

Basically, anything that cuts down or eliminates refined carbohydrates will “cure” type 2 diabetes. I watch my carbs like a hawk and have a normal A1C, so I’m technically no diabetic, but I know one Snickers bar can send my blood sugar north of 350. Controlled is really a better word here.

[JI7]

11. unless one eats a lot of bread , pasta, etc

[Ms. Toad]

12. His studies were specific to a diet of around 800 calories/day

His extension to losing a certain quantity of weight are unwarranted.

Lose x% of the weight is the old (failed) advice.

The original studies were to mimic the bariatric surgery diet, and grew out of an observation that bariatric surgery reversed t2 diabetes - and Taylor hypothesized that the dramatic drop in calories associated with the surgery might reverse T2 diabetes (suppoted by some studies on fasting).

ALL of his formal controlled studies are on the basis of severely restricted calories for a short period (8 weeks). His extension to weight loss by any means is based on anecdotal evidence that people started sending him - but has not been confirmed by any controlled study. (I've had personal correspondence with him on this matter - and my opinion is that he's jumped ship on this extension.)

As to the theory that his hypothesis tests (very low calorie diet) - it has reversed my T2 diabetes to prediabetes. Unfortunately, cancer interrupted a complete trial - but I'm about to start back in and see if I can finish the reversal. (PRIOR to trying the VLCD I had lost around 50 lbs - far more than Taylor's new hypotheses suggests should be needed to reverse diabetes. The change from diabetes back to prediabetes came within 2 weeks of starting the VLCD).

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. It says 3 to 5 months, not 8 weeks, for the severely restricted calories (nt)

[Farmer-Rick]

18. Oh man I can't imagine how severely hungry those poor people were

I've heard of other severely low calorie diet experiments that had to be stopped because the participants were so out of control. People eating 40 packs of gum a day. People sneaking food and hiding it in their rooms. Hunger makes people do weird things.