Intensive lifestyle program linked to higher type 2 diabetes remission rates

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas found that a strict routine combining a low-calorie diet with supervised strength and aerobic training helped more than half of younger adults reverse type 2 diabetes within six months.

The RESET for Remission Trial

The RESET for Remission trial enrolled 96 adults between the ages of 18 and 45 who were living with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes. According to the study, none of the participants were using insulin. Researchers from McGill University in Canada and the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom compared an intensive lifestyle program against standard medical care.

Key details of the intervention included:

• Diet: Participants halted blood sugar and blood pressure medications under medical supervision and began an 800- to 900-calorie daily diet. For the first two weeks, they consumed only meal-replacement products. From weeks three through 12, they were allowed one structured meal of lean protein and vegetables each day alongside meal replacements, before shifting into a weight maintenance phase for the final 12 weeks.
• Exercise: The program paired calorie restriction with supervised aerobic and resistance training twice weekly, plus one weekly solo workout.

Study Results and Remission Rates

The study found that 54% of participants under age 45 who completed the intensive lifestyle program achieved disease remission. In comparison, only 4% of participants receiving standard medical care reached the same milestone. After accounting for baseline health factors, researchers concluded that patients on the diet and exercise program were 21 times more likely to achieve remission than those receiving routine care.

Participants lost an average of 18.5 pounds over 24 weeks and showed improvements in treadmill endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Regarding muscle mass, Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta, a professor of medicine and director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at McGill University, said, "In our study, we think the diet provoked the weight loss, and exercise helped make sure it was [not] from muscle." Dr. Dasgupta noted that MRI studies indicated muscle did not decrease and handgrip strength increased.

Limitations and Side Effects

Researchers noted several limitations to the study. The trial was small, involving fewer than 100 individuals over a six-month window. Dr. Dasgupta stated, "The main limitation is that we had to compare the diet plus exercise with usual care," noting that the study could not perfectly prove if improvements in muscle and fitness were specifically from the exercise rather than the diet alone.

Participants reported side effects, with approximately 86% of the intervention group reporting mild to moderate symptoms—primarily during the early weeks—including headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and constipation. Researchers reported no severe medical complications. Health professionals cautioned that diabetes remission is not a permanent cure and noted that maintaining such a regimen may be difficult outside of a clinical setting.

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Sources

• foxnews.com: Simple diet and exercise combination sends type 2 diabetes into remission | Fox News
• wsbradio.com: Type 2 diabetes remission possible in just six months, new research suggests – 95.5 WSB
• mezha.net: Intensive lifestyle program linked to 21-fold higher remission likelihood in younger adults with type 2 diabetes

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.