Researchers at McGill University, the University of Leicester, and the University of Alberta conducted a randomized clinical trial examining whether combining a very low-calorie diet with structured exercise could help younger adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes achieve remission. The study enrolled 96 adults aged 18 to 45 with early-onset type 2 diabetes and obesity who were not using insulin, with participants randomly assigned to either an intensive intervention program or standard medical care.
The intensive program ran for 24 weeks and consisted of a daily calorie intake of 800 to 900 calories paired with supervised aerobic and resistance exercise twice weekly plus one independent exercise session per week during the first 12 weeks. During weeks 13 to 24, participants transitioned to a weight-maintenance diet while continuing independent exercise. The intervention diet provided 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates, and 20% fat, with initial meals replaced by specially formulated nutritional products for the first two weeks, followed by greater flexibility in food choices.
Results showed a substantial difference between groups after 24 weeks. Of the 50 participants in the intensive intervention group, 27 achieved remission (54%), defined as an HbA1c level below 6.5% without glucose-lowering medication for at least 12 weeks. By comparison, only 2 of 46 control participants achieved remission (4%). The intervention group experienced significantly greater weight loss, with an average reduction of 8.4 kilograms compared to 1.2 kilograms in the control group. Statistical analysis indicated that participants in the intensive program were 21 times more likely to achieve remission than those receiving standard care.
The findings suggest that structured lifestyle interventions combining diet and exercise may offer an effective approach for managing early-onset type 2 diabetes, which typically progresses more aggressively than diabetes diagnosed at older ages. The trial reported no severe adverse events, though side effects were more common among participants following the intensive diet regimen. Results were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI