Losing Weight Can Improve – or Even Reverse! – Type 2 Diabetes

A new analysis shows that patients suffering from type 2 diabetes have greater chances of improving their condition, or even reversing the effect of the disease, if they lose weight.

“The recent development of effective weight loss medications, if made accessible to all who could benefit, could play a pivotal role” in reducing the prevalence of diabetes and its complications, explain the researchers.

Researchers have reviewed 22 randomized trials testing weight loss interventions among patients either overweight or obese suffering from type 2 diabetes. Half of those who lost 20% to 29% of their body weight were in complete remission. As for almost 80% of patients who lost 30% of their body weight, they no longer appear to have diabetes. Their hemoglobin A1c levels – a standard measure reflecting average blood sugar levels – or their fasting blood sugar levels over the past few months had returned to normal without the use of any diabetes medication. According to estimations, for every 1 percentage point decrease in body weight, the probability of reaching complete remission increased by roughly 2 percentage points. As for the probability of reaching partial remission, it increased by roughly 3 percentage points. Researchers noted that type 2 diabetes accounts for 96% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes; more than 85% of adults suffering from diabetes are either overweight or obese.