Study finds diet and exercise can help young adults put Type 2 Diabetes into remission

Study finds diet and exercise can help young adults put Type 2 Diabetes into remission

They continued exercising until the end of the six-month trial. By then, those in the programme had lost an average of 8.4 kilogrammes, compared with 1.2 kilogrammes among participants receiving standard care.

More than half of young adults with type 2 diabetes achieved remission after following a closely supervised diet and exercise programme for six months, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by researchers from Canada and the United Kingdom and published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas, offers fresh evidence that significant lifestyle changes could help younger people manage a condition that can become more difficult to control when diagnosed early in life.

The research involved adults aged 18 to 45 who had type 2 diabetes and obesity. Of the 50 participants who took part in the programme, 27 saw their blood sugar levels fall below the level used to diagnose diabetes and remained off diabetes medication for at least three months. In comparison, only two of the 46 participants receiving standard medical care achieved the same result.

To test whether weight loss could improve their condition, participants were initially placed on a strict diet providing between 800 and 900 calories a day. They also exercised three times a week, with two sessions supervised by instructors and focused on improving fitness and strengthening muscles.

After the first three months, participants moved to a less restrictive eating plan aimed at helping them maintain their weight loss.

They continued exercising until the end of the six-month trial. By then, those in the programme had lost an average of 8.4 kilogrammes, compared with 1.2 kilogrammes among participants receiving standard care.

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The exercise sessions also helped protect muscle as participants lost weight, which is important because losing weight too quickly can lead to a loss of muscle, which affects strength and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

"Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of combining structured aerobic and resistance exercise with a low energy diet in early-onset type 2 diabetes," the researchers said.

They added that preserving muscle during weight loss could have lasting benefits for people's health and physical ability. However, the researchers stressed that longer studies are needed to determine whether participants can maintain their weight loss and remain in remission after the programme ends.