Health · Medical Research · 4 hrs ago
Intensive diet and exercise put type 2 diabetes into remission for 54% of young adults
A clinical trial found remission in 54% of young adults with type 2 diabetes who followed an intensive diet and exercise program for 24 weeks.
The RESET for Remission trial involved 96 adults aged 18 to 45 with obesity and early-onset diabetes in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Participants assigned to the program ate 800 to 900 calories a day and did supervised aerobic and strength training, while a comparison group received usual care.
The program also included medical supervision when diabetes and some blood pressure medicines were stopped.
Remission meant keeping blood sugar below a set level for at least 12 weeks without diabetes medication, and it does not mean the disease is permanently cured.
Only 4% of those receiving usual care reached remission, compared with 54% in the intensive program.
The results matter because diabetes diagnosed at a young age can progress quickly, but the trial only measured outcomes at six months.
Longer studies are needed to learn whether remission lasts and participants still need regular clinical follow-up.
A low-calorie diet combined with supervised exercise led 54% of younger adults with type 2 diabetes to remission after 24 weeks in the RESET for Remission trial.
In the standard-care group, 4% reached remission.
The trial included 96 adults aged 18 to 45 with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Remission was defined as HbA1c below 6.5% for at least 12 weeks without glucose-lowering medication.
Researchers said longer follow-up is needed to determine whether remission lasts beyond six months.
- Who
- 96 adults aged 18 to 45 with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes.
- What
- A trial found 54% of participants in an intensive diet-and-exercise program achieved remission, compared with 4% receiving standard care.
- When
- The results were measured after 24 weeks.
- Where
- Trial centres in Canada and the United Kingdom.
- Why
- The trial tested whether a very low-calorie diet and supervised exercise could help younger adults achieve diabetes remission.
Intensive lifestyle program
Standard medical care
Remission rate
Intensive lifestyle program
27 of 50 participants, or 54%, achieved remission.
Standard medical care
Two of 46 participants, or 4%, achieved remission.
Treatment
Intensive lifestyle program
Participants followed a diet of 800 to 900 calories a day and supervised aerobic and strength training.
Standard medical care
Participants continued their usual medical care.
Participants in the intensive program replaced all meals with formulated meal-replacement products.
Participants could add one structured meal a day while continuing meal replacements and the calorie limit.
Participants moved to a weight-maintenance phase, with exercise on their own.
27 of 50 participants in the intensive program and two of 46 receiving standard care met the remission criteria.
- Trial
- RESET for Remission
- Participants
- 96 adults aged 18 to 45
- Intensive program group
- 27 of 50 achieved remission (54%)
- Standard-care group
- 2 of 46 achieved remission (4%)
- Daily calorie intake
- 800 to 900 calories
- Remission threshold
- HbA1c below 6.5% for at least 12 weeks without glucose-lowering medication
2 sources
What people are saying
Our study shows that it is possible to combine a low-calorie diet with supervised exercise in young adults with type 2 diabetes.
There has previously been some concern about combining the two as being too much of a burden for people. However, people in our study stayed in our study.