Long-term diabetes reversal is now an achievable target

People who reverse their diabetes and subsequently keep their weight down can remain diabetes free. This is the conclusion from a study conducted at Newcastle University, which forms part of a large body of evidence detailing that losing weight in T2DM may effectively reverse it by removing fat from the pancreas. In 2013, a study was published which showed that T2DM could be reversed by limiting caloric intake, however it was a small and short study. This study included a slightly larger number of participants. Once again, it followed a similar diet and diabetes was reversed in a number of participants, although many of them remained overweight enough fat had been removed from their pancreas to allow for normal insulin production and action. The study also showed that longstanding diabetes can also be reversed, with some patients becoming diabetes free after 10 years.

The study’s authors are eager to point out that more research needs to be undertaken in order to improve the quality of the interventions in order to make it applicable to more patients, therefore they have already begun work on a larger trial that will look at how successfully people can reverse their diabetes through weight loss under the care of their GP or nurse. This is being funded by Diabetes UK.