New Zealand health professionals say losing enough weight to reverse Type 2 diabetes is no easy feat.
Health experts in the UK are hailing new research showing intensive weight loss can reverse Type 2 diabetes, the first time the disease has been reversed without surgery.
Nearly 300 participants began the UK trial on a restrictive liquid diet that saw them drinking a low calorie protein shakes for between three and five months.
Within a year, nearly half of them had returned to a non-diabetic state without taking any diabetic treatment.
"We now have clear evidence that weight loss of 10 or 15 kilograms is enough to turn this disease around," says Professor Michael Lean of Glasgow University.
"It's hugely exciting that we can do that in routine practice with ordinary nurses, ordinary dieticians, ordinary GPs and ordinary patients."
Medical experts here say it's the first time Type 2 diabetes has been suppressed without the more invasive gastric by-pass surgery.
“It took me three years to lose 97 kilos
"It's the weight loss that's important because that takes the fat out of the liver and the muscles and the pancreas where it shouldn't be and allows the body to get back into its normal metabolism," said Professor Boyd Swinburn of Auckland University.
Both Professor Swinburn and Dave Latele, leader of the BBM.Fit programme in Auckland, favour a sensible approach to losing weight.
"You want to be able to maintain this, so baby steps still get you up the mountain. That's what you need to focus on, bit by bit by bit. It took me three years to lose 97 kilos," Mr Latelle said.
His quest now is supporting others to do the same and decrease the risk of developing life threatening complications.
"I talk about a lifestyle that you can maintain, just cutting back on the bad food bit by bit by bit, and starting to move. Now moving can just be going for a walk," Mr Latelle said.
The breakthrough study in the UK, which has taken a more robust approach to weight loss, has sent trial participant Isobel Murray's Type two diabetes into remission.
"It's freedom to live your life again and know that you're not in that cycle anymore, and know that I can control this. And I will never go there again. Never will I be taking diabetic medication again," Ms Murray said.
The next phase of the research will monitor Ms Murray's progress and whether her diabetes stays in remission.
SHARE ME