Curing Type 2 Diabetes with Weight Loss

Geschatte leestijd: 7 minutenDiabetes type 2 can be cured within 2 to 10 years after onset by losing weight. In the Netherlands, diabetes is the 11th leading cause of death, directly behind breast cancer [1]. In 2015, there were 1.1 million Dutch people diagnosed with diabetes. This accounted for about 1.7 billion euros in healthcare costs in 2011. These figures concern all forms of diabetes, of which type 2 is the most common.

Table of Contents

• Diabetes type 2
• Curing type 2 diabetes by losing weight
• Diabetes not a death sentence
• Curing type 2 diabetes: No extreme diet needed
• Curing type 2 diabetes without a diet
• Curing diabetes through biological tweets
• Reprogramming fat cells
• Reprogramming without losing weight
• Curing type 2 diabetes and then?
• Weight and diabetes
• Losing weight as soon as possible after type 2 diabetes diagnosis
• First-phase insulin secretion restored by weight loss
• Not playing the victim

Diabetes type 2

In type 2 diabetes, the body no longer responds well to insulin. As a result, it is no longer able to regulate blood sugar properly. Professor Roy Taylor of Newcastle University in the UK has dedicated almost 40 years of his life to studying this condition and its underlying causes. He presented his findings last week at the European Association For The Study Of Diabetes (EASD 2017) in Lisbon.

Taylor’s main conclusions are:

• Excess calories lead to excess fat in the liver
• As a result, the liver responds inadequately to insulin and produces too much glucose
• The surplus fat in the liver is passed on to the pancreas, causing the cells that produce insulin to begin to fail
• Reducing the amount of fat in the pancreas by even less than 1 gram can restart normal insulin production, reversing type 2 diabetes
• Restoring the function of the pancreas and reversing type 2 diabetes is possible at least ten years after the onset of the condition

Curing type 2 diabetes by losing weight

‘Could it be that it was all so simple?’

Taylor’s work now confirms his Twin Cycle Hypothesis; Type 2 diabetes is caused by fat accumulation in both the liver and pancreas. As mentioned, his work is based on the hypothesis that the liver responds poorly to insulin due to this, resulting in excessive glucose production. At the same time, the large amount of fat in the liver also increases the process of transporting fat to all other tissues. Including the pancreas, making it unable to produce sufficient insulin. So, insufficient insulin and inadequate response to the insulin that is there.

In the Counterpoint study of 2011, it was confirmed that if an excess of food was drastically reduced through a low-calorie diet, all this damage could be reversed [3]. In this study, Taylor and colleagues demonstrated a significant decrease in the amount of fat in the liver, restoring insulin sensitivity. This occurred within 7 days of starting a low-calorie diet. The pancreas takes a little longer. In 8 weeks, the amount of fat in the pancreas was reduced, and insulin production was restored, normalizing blood sugar.

“I think the real importance of this work is for the patients themselves,” Professor Taylor says. “Many have described to me how embarking on the low-calorie diet has been the only option to prevent what they thought — or had been told — was an inevitable decline into further medication and further ill health because of their diabetes. By studying the underlying mechanisms we have been able to demonstrate the simplicity of type 2 diabetes.”

Roy Taylor, Newcastle University

Diabetes not a death sentence

So, diabetes (type 2) does not have to be a death sentence. Even after ten years, you can reverse these conditions by reducing the relatively high amount of fat in the pancreas. Currently, this can only be done by losing a considerable amount of weight.

In the Counterbalance study of 2016, Taylor and colleagues demonstrated that these effects can be reversed in most people after 10 years [4]. This restored metabolism also applies in the long term as long as the lost weight is not regained.

Professor Taylor explains: Our lab studies have shown that excess fat causes the loss of specialized cell function. These cells go into survival mode, merely to survive while no longer contributing to the health of the whole body. Removing the excess fat enables the cells to resume this specialized function of producing insulin. This provides an explanation for effects already observed in clinical studies.

Curing type 2 diabetes: No extreme diet needed

Many people assume that curing type 2 diabetes requires an extreme diet, but that’s not necessarily the case. A low-calorie diet can be effective, but it doesn’t have to be extreme. According to Taylor, it’s more about losing weight consistently over time. This could mean making small, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle.

For example, reducing portion sizes, choosing healthier foods, and increasing physical activity can all contribute to weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity. By making these changes gradually, you can achieve long-term success without feeling deprived or overwhelmed.

Curing type 2 diabetes without a diet

While losing weight is often an effective way to reverse type 2 diabetes, it’s not the only option. Some people may be able to achieve remission through other means, such as medication or surgery. However, these approaches may not be suitable for everyone and can come with risks and side effects.

For those who prefer to avoid medication or surgery, lifestyle changes remain the cornerstone of diabetes management. By adopting a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and managing stress, you can improve your overall health and reduce your risk of complications.

Curing diabetes through biological tweets

The ultimate solution for type 2 diabetes may lie in a completely different approach: biological tweets. These tweets are signals sent by cells in the body to communicate with each other. By deciphering these messages, scientists hope to gain insights into the underlying causes of diabetes and develop targeted treatments.

One promising area of research is the use of stem cells to regenerate insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. By understanding how these cells communicate and function, researchers can work towards restoring normal insulin production in people with diabetes.

Reprogramming fat cells

Another approach is to reprogram fat cells to improve insulin sensitivity. This involves changing the expression of certain genes within the fat cells to make them more responsive to insulin. By doing so, researchers believe they can help the body regulate blood sugar more effectively and reduce the risk of diabetes.

While these approaches are still in the early stages of development, they offer hope for the future of diabetes treatment. By targeting the underlying causes of the disease, researchers believe they can develop more effective and personalized treatments that improve outcomes for people with diabetes.

Reprogramming without losing weight

One of the advantages of reprogramming fat cells is that it may be possible to improve insulin sensitivity without the need for weight loss. This could be particularly beneficial for people who are unable to lose weight or who have difficulty maintaining weight loss over time.

By targeting the molecular pathways involved in insulin resistance, researchers hope to develop therapies that can help people with diabetes manage their condition more effectively. These therapies may complement existing treatments and provide new options for people with diabetes.

Curing type 2 diabetes and then?

While curing type 2 diabetes is a significant achievement, it’s not the end of the story. People who have reversed their diabetes still need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent it from returning. This means continuing to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and monitor blood sugar levels.

By staying vigilant and proactive, people with diabetes can reduce their risk of complications and enjoy a higher quality of life. With ongoing research and advances in treatment, the outlook for people with diabetes is brighter than ever before.

Weight and diabetes

There is a clear link between weight and diabetes, with obesity being a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Excess weight, particularly around the abdomen, increases the body’s resistance to insulin and raises blood sugar levels.

By losing weight, people with diabetes can improve their insulin sensitivity and reduce their risk of complications. Even modest weight loss can have significant benefits for people with diabetes, making it an important part of diabetes management.

Losing weight as soon as possible after type 2 diabetes diagnosis

For people with type 2 diabetes, losing weight as soon as possible after diagnosis is crucial. Studies have shown that early intervention can lead to better outcomes and may even reverse the condition in some cases.

By adopting a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, people with diabetes can improve their overall health and reduce their reliance on medication. Losing weight can also reduce the risk of complications and improve quality of life.

First-phase insulin secretion restored by weight loss

One of the key benefits of weight loss for people with type 2 diabetes is the restoration of first-phase insulin secretion. This is the rapid release of insulin in response to a meal, which helps to control blood sugar levels.

By losing weight, people with diabetes can improve their body’s ability to produce and release insulin, making it easier to manage blood sugar levels. This can reduce the need for medication and help to prevent complications associated with diabetes.

The biggest difference was in the so-called first-phase insulin secretion. Beta cells in the pancreas release insulin in two phases. In the first phase, this happens with a brief peak that lasts about 10 minutes.

In people with type 2 diabetes, this first-phase insulin secretion is normally absent. However, in the responders, it increased in the study.

‘Not playing the victim’

For clarity: Much further research still needs to be done on the effect of weight loss on type 2 diabetes. But these insights can lead to a new awareness. A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes does not have to be a final judgment in many cases. Even if you were previously unable to change your lifestyle resulting in diabetes, that does not mean it is too late now. At least, if you act fairly quickly.

So, it doesn’t happen to you, you let it happen to you. That sounds harsh. Moreover, losing weight will not help everyone (in terms of type 2 diabetes). Still, I would always rather hear that a big challenge awaits me than that the race is already over.

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