People can reverse their type 2 diabetes by going on a strict 900-calorie-a-day liquid diet offered by the NHS.
Sticking to it may be challenging though, results suggest. Dieters must endure a few months of consuming only shakes, soups and meal-replacement bars, before healthy solid foods can be gradually reintroduced.
Of many thousands invited, hundreds completed the year-long programme, findings published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal reveal.
A third shed lots of weight - nearly two-and-a-half stone (16kg) - and put their diabetes into remission.
The programme is being offered to people around England. It is separate from the weight loss jab Wegovy that will be provided by some specialist NHS weight-loss management services.
Diabetes UK said people should be supported to find the approach that is most appropriate for them – whether that involves medication, dietary changes or bariatric surgery.
The shake and soup diet programme is fully funded by the NHS, so there is no cost for the individual. They get bespoke diet and exercise advice sessions in person or online, as well as support from their GP.
Experts say the opportunity can be truly life-changing for people - if they can stick at it.
Unmanaged, diabetes can increase the risk of getting other serious health problems and damage the eyes and nerves.
Yep, weight loss will do it. The shakes themselves were high protein and carb, low fat. From memory about 26% protein 59% carb 13% fat (2% fiber I imagine). Similar to results seen from other nutritional approaches to diabetes involving weight loss.
My one concern is that it doesn’t seem to instill healthy eating habits unlike other dietary approaches (not much detail on the 8 week dietary transition plan they have other than the macronutrients and the quote “Focusing on transitioning to a healthy balanced diet”). The data I’ve seen is up to 12 months and it is very easy to have success at that point. The real test is if the weight is still off at the 2-5 year mark which is when virta health’s approach started failing.
Edit. After some searching found the 5 year follow up and some more data, reading it now and will edit this comment in the future. In short the weight loss remains significant at the 5 year mark but is far less impressive. Overall a positive outcome.
5 year results.pdf (403.9 KB)
1 year results.pdf (968.8 KB)
How easy is it going to be for people to stay on a 900 calorie diet?
It’s a failing strategy for most, I’d imagine as they’ve not been taught new skills, and they have a non-sustainable processed food diet. By definition they’ll come off this and regress - and if they’ve lost weight quickly, they’ll have lost excess muscle and at an even lower weight have recurrence of their metabolic syndrome. A permanent long term sustainable change with new skills and approaches is what is necessary. It’s well intentioned, but I cannot foresee this doing any better than nutrisystem or similar with a calorie restricted diet that then goes away …