Simple diet and exercise combination sends type 2 diabetes into remission

Key Points:

• A study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas found that 54% of adults under 45 with early-onset type 2 diabetes achieved disease remission within six months through a strict routine combining a low-calorie diet and supervised strength and aerobic training.
• The intervention involved an 800- to 900-calorie daily diet, initially consisting of meal replacements, paired with supervised exercise sessions twice weekly and one solo workout, resulting in an average weight loss of 18.5 pounds and improved cardiovascular fitness.
• Participants who followed the program were 21 times more likely to achieve remission—defined as maintaining HbA1c below 6.5% without glucose-lowering drugs for 12 weeks—compared to only 4% in the standard care group.
• The study emphasized resistance training to preserve muscle mass during rapid weight loss, with MRI scans showing no muscle decrease and increased handgrip strength among participants.
• Limitations include the small sample size, short duration, and inability to isolate the effects of diet versus exercise; additionally, the rigorous regimen caused mild to moderate side effects for 86% of participants and may be challenging to maintain outside clinical settings.