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NMU 147 – Min wt loss reverses type 2 diabetes

Nutrition / Natural Medicine Update No 147 (October 16, 2019)

with Dr. James Meschino

 

Topic: 10% Weight Loss Puts Type 2 Diabetes into Remission

Source: Diabetic Medicine (2019)

 

An important study published in the journal Diabetic Medicine in 2019 showed that recently diagnosed type 2 diabetics can put their condition into remission by following a basic dietary and lifestyle plan that reduces their body weight by just 10%. This means that a person weighing 200 lb can reverse their type 2 diabetes by losing just 20 pounds. A person weighing 150 lb can reverse their type 2 diabetic condition by losing just 15 lb.This is important because most type 2 diabetics (about 80%) are overweight at the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, as being overweight is a triggering factor for the disease. As our fat cells increase their sensitivity to insulin decreases, which results in higher blood sugar (glucose) and insulin levels. This deadly combination increases the risk of heart attack, blindness from macular degeneration, cataract development, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disease and even the need for amputation (toes, feet, leg).

We’ve known for a long time that a highly restrictive diet (700 calories per day) can reverse type 2 diabetes, but this is a very difficult program to follow and long-term compliance is very poor due to constant feelings of hunger and deprivation. So, this new research is very eye-opening and encouraging, as the study showed that if you can help newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics lose just 10% of their weight, their type 2 diabetes virtually disappears in many cases. The study followed 867 people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes aged 40 and 69 years. The researchers found that 257 participants (30%) participants were in remission at the five-year follow-up. Patients who achieved a weight loss of 10% or more within the first five years after diagnosis were more than twice as likely to go into remission compared to patients who maintained their original weight. The researchers concluded, “our results suggest that it may be possible to get rid of diabetes, for at least five years, with a modest weight loss of 10%. This will be motivating and hence more achievable for many patients.”

So, that is very encouraging, as it means that just losing some of the excess weight can reverse the condition. Remember that if a person eats 100 fewer calories per day and burns an extra 100 calories per day (via a 15-20 minute walk), they automatically lose 24 pounds of fat over the next 12-months. Most people can make that happen, and in the case of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics, the significance of such of strategy is emerging to be a potentially life-changing and disease-reversing consideration.

I have included the reference for this research paper in the text below.

Reference

H. Dambha-Miller, A. J. Day, J. Strelitz, G. Irving, S. J. Griffin. Behavior change, weight loss and remission of Type 2 diabetes: a community-based prospective cohort studyDiabetic Medicine, 2019.  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dme.14122

 

Eat Smart, Live Well, Look Great,

Dr. Meschino

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