An international clinical trial has revealed that a significant portion of young people living with type 2 diabetes can reach remission using a specific combination of nutrition and physical activity. The RESET for Remission study, conducted across Canada and the United Kingdom, showed that intensive lifestyle changes significantly outperformed standard medical care for participants under age 45.

How was remission achieved?

The study followed 96 participants living with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Researchers divided the group, with 50 people assigned to an intensive intervention and 46 receiving standard care. The intervention group followed a strict protocol for 24 weeks:

  • A low-calorie diet of 800 to 900 calories per day.
  • The use of meal-replacement shakes and bars during the first two weeks.
  • Supervised weekly training sessions involving both aerobic and strength exercises.

Of those in the intensive program, 54% reached remission, meaning their blood sugar levels dropped below diagnostic thresholds for at least 12 weeks without the use of glucose-lowering medication. In contrast, only 4% of the standard care group achieved the same result.

Why does early intervention matter?

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in people under 45. For this demographic, the disease often progresses more rapidly than in older populations, which can lead to earlier health complications and a shorter life expectancy. Because these patients are often in the midst of building careers or starting families, finding non-surgical ways to manage the condition is vital.

Beyond blood sugar control, MRI imaging revealed significant metabolic improvements in the intervention group. Participants lost more than 9% of liver fat and over 24% of visceral fat, which are key drivers of the disease. Notably, while participants lost some fat from their muscles, they were able to preserve their overall muscle volume through the supervised workouts.

FAQ

What is considered diabetes remission?

Remission occurs when a person's blood sugar levels stay below the diagnostic threshold for diabetes for at least 12 weeks without requiring diabetes medication.

Is this a permanent cure?

While the results are encouraging, researchers noted that the long-term sustainability of these results still needs to be investigated.