Exaggeration found in PR release claim that anyone can “reverse” their Type 2 diabetes

Our Review Summary

This release from Newcastle University describes a very small study that sought to control type 2 diabetes in patients through a reduced-calorie diet and a weight-management program. The results showed that 12 of the 30 participants saw a resumption of normal insulin production that continued for six months, supporting the release’s claim of “reversing” the disease. But what about the other 18 patients? A study this small can hardly suggest its finding are applicable to all type 2 diabetes patients which, in effect, it does. And benefits observed after only 6 months may not be maintained over the longer term. The release also omitted discussion of harms and alternatives, and didn’t give us a good picture of how the study was conducted.

Why This Matters

Rates of Type 2 diabetes have increased markedly in parallel with rates of obesity, especially in developed countries. It has long been recognized that diet, weight loss and exercise can improve the control of diabetes. Large studies investigating the impact of weight loss surgery have demonstrated that blood sugar results can return to normal after significant weight loss. It has also been shown that individuals who regain weight after surgery can then have blood sugars go up again and need to resume medications for diabetes.

Patients and their families may excitedly assume that the approach described in this release is right for them and alter their normal regimen in the treatment of their disease. But adhering to the diet discussed in this release will be very difficult for most people and is not without risks. And despite the release’s suggestion of universal benefit, a “reversal” of diabetes did not occur in the majority of patients. Patients should understand that context when weighing whether to embark on such a diet.

See the rest of this article here:  http://www.healthnewsreview.org/news-release-review/exaggeration-found-in-pr-release-claim-that-anyone-can-reverse-their-type-2-diabetes/

Not surprised it is not a panacea. There are no quick fixes and unlike lchf it is not a diet anyone can live with.
For me LCHF stopped RH and it is worth keeping on it for life.
Derek

Derek wrote:Not surprised it is not a panacea. There are no quick fixes and unlike lchf it is not a diet anyone can live with.
For me LCHF stopped RH and it is worth keeping on it for life.
Derek

Exactly, when they can revert to a diet that includes pasta, rice and pizza to name but three and hold non diabetic blood glucose the maybe we have a cure, as we know it's not going to happen 

The only way you can actually measure a "reverse" or "cure" is by having glucose challenge test with at least 75 Grams of glucose and having normal glucose and insulin response for at least 3 hours. Then the question is for how long will it be "reverse" has you really changed what caused it in the first place, the accumulation of abnormal fat(pancreas & liver??) or bad glucose metabolism. If it not and there is no reason why it would last, you will soon be back to the same condition just as it happens with bariatric surgeries.

Are a highly reduced calorie diet a hard difficult to maintain low carb diet in disguise?

Yes I am not alone in suspecting that it's the carb reduction that works. Reducing the other macronutrients at the same time disguises the effect. As with a study that showed people NOT having bariatric surgery but following the same diet as the surgery victims lost as much weight, there's a failure to accept the obvious when money rides on the outcome.

A "diet" is a profit centre when it fails and people have to go back on it later. The obvious answer is to never go off it, which is impossible with such a huge calorie reduction but highly possible with LCHF.