'Achievable' weight loss could make type 2 diabetes remission possible: Study
| Oct 3, 2019, 13:47 IST
Type 2 diabetes remission could be possible for patients who lose close to 10 per cent or more of their body weight within the first five years of being diagnosed with the condition, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by a team from the University of Cambridge, states the chanced of going into remission is extremely high for patients who can lose this amount of weight in this time frame.
“This reinforces the importance of managing one’s weight, which can be achieved through changes in diet and increasing physical activity. Type 2 diabetes, while a chronic disease, can lead to significant complications, but as our study shows, can be controlled and even reversed," senior author Simon Griffin, a professor at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, told a news portal.
For the study, the team analysed data collected from the ADDITION-Cambridge trial, which includes information on diabetes patients between the ages of 40 and 69. According to the study's findings close to 30 per cent of participants went into remission in five years of being diagnosed. Those who lost more than 10 per cent of their weight had a higher chance of going into remission.
Even though a healthy lifestyle and medication can help patients manage the condition, high blood glucose can stay at normal levels by losing weight and consuming fewer calories. Previous research has found that consuming a low-calorie diet that consists of 700 calories for about eight weeks may help with remission.
“We’ve known for some time now that it’s possible to send diabetes into remission using fairly drastic measures such as intensive weight loss programmes and extreme calorie restriction,” Dr Hajira Dambha-Miller from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care told a news portal.
Adding, “These interventions can be very challenging to individuals and difficult to achieve. But, our results suggest that it may be possible to get rid of diabetes, for at least five years, with a more modest weight loss of 10%. This will be more motivating and hence more achievable for many people.”
Another study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, claims coffee may help tackle diabetes and obesity. Researchers say the beverage can help stimulate 'brown fat', which may help fight the two heath conditions. "Brown fat works in a different way to other fat in your body and produces heat by burning sugar and fat, often in response to cold. Increasing its activity improves blood sugar control as well as improving blood lipid levels and the extra calories burnt help with weight loss. However, until now, no one has found an acceptable way to stimulate its activity in humans," study author Michael Symonds, a professor at the University of Nottingham, told a news portal.
Millions of people are suffering from type 2 diabetes across the globe, which can also give rise to serious health issues like heart disease, vision loss, amputations, and stroke.
Picture Courtesy: Google Images
The study, conducted by a team from the University of Cambridge, states the chanced of going into remission is extremely high for patients who can lose this amount of weight in this time frame.
“This reinforces the importance of managing one’s weight, which can be achieved through changes in diet and increasing physical activity. Type 2 diabetes, while a chronic disease, can lead to significant complications, but as our study shows, can be controlled and even reversed," senior author Simon Griffin, a professor at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, told a news portal.
For the study, the team analysed data collected from the ADDITION-Cambridge trial, which includes information on diabetes patients between the ages of 40 and 69. According to the study's findings close to 30 per cent of participants went into remission in five years of being diagnosed. Those who lost more than 10 per cent of their weight had a higher chance of going into remission.
Even though a healthy lifestyle and medication can help patients manage the condition, high blood glucose can stay at normal levels by losing weight and consuming fewer calories. Previous research has found that consuming a low-calorie diet that consists of 700 calories for about eight weeks may help with remission.
“We’ve known for some time now that it’s possible to send diabetes into remission using fairly drastic measures such as intensive weight loss programmes and extreme calorie restriction,” Dr Hajira Dambha-Miller from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care told a news portal.
Adding, “These interventions can be very challenging to individuals and difficult to achieve. But, our results suggest that it may be possible to get rid of diabetes, for at least five years, with a more modest weight loss of 10%. This will be more motivating and hence more achievable for many people.”
Another study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, claims coffee may help tackle diabetes and obesity. Researchers say the beverage can help stimulate 'brown fat', which may help fight the two heath conditions. "Brown fat works in a different way to other fat in your body and produces heat by burning sugar and fat, often in response to cold. Increasing its activity improves blood sugar control as well as improving blood lipid levels and the extra calories burnt help with weight loss. However, until now, no one has found an acceptable way to stimulate its activity in humans," study author Michael Symonds, a professor at the University of Nottingham, told a news portal.
Millions of people are suffering from type 2 diabetes across the globe, which can also give rise to serious health issues like heart disease, vision loss, amputations, and stroke.
Picture Courtesy: Google Images