An intensive reduction in calorie intake combined with regular physical exercise led to remission of type 2 diabetes in 54% of young patients within 24 weeks of therapy, according to the results of a study by Canadian scientists, as reported by infohub.kz.
Specialists at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, found that a low-calorie diet together with regular training can reverse early type 2 diabetes. The results were published in the medical journal The Lancet Regional Health: Americas.
The 24-week clinical trial involved 96 people aged 18 to 45 with obesity and a confirmed diagnosis made no more than six years earlier. Participants were divided into two equal groups.
For the first 12 weeks, the experimental group followed a strict diet with an energy value of 800–900 kilocalories per day (30% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 20% fat), did strength and aerobic exercise twice a week under specialist supervision and once on their own. For the second 12 weeks, the volunteers switched to maintenance nutrition with independent training. The control group received only standard medical care.
After 12 weeks, 58% of patients in the intervention group had achieved remission, and by the end of the six-month experiment, 54% of participants (27 of 50) had maintained a sustained improvement. In the control group, the same result was recorded in only two patients.
The lead author of the study, professor of medicine Kaberi Dasgupta, noted that the disease progresses faster in young people, so non-drug methods are especially important for preventing early strokes, heart and kidney disease.
Independent experts urge consideration of the risks of such strict restrictions. Dr. David Cutler of Santa Monica stressed that about 86% of participants in the experimental group complained of side effects: constipation, headaches, dizziness and feeling cold. Associate professor Eamon Laird of Ireland warned against attempting to repeat the protocol on one's own without medical supervision, recalling that temporary remission does not mean a complete cure.