by Chef Murph K.T.
Type 2 Diabetes Magic Pill is Weight Loss?
Type 2 Diabetes is a common and chronic condition in America affecting millions of people. It is a condition that severely impact quality of life and has serious health ramifications and side effects. According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report for 
2017, 30.3 million people in the U.S. (or 9.4% of the total population) suffer from some form of diabetes. In addition, it is estimated that Type 2 Diabetes accounts for over 90% of all cases of diabetes. It is caused by a variety of risk factors ranging from genetic pre-disposition to lifestyle factors such as eating habits, smoking, or lack of exercise.
Curing or treating the condition once it has taken place can be more complex and tougher, and there are a variety of options available. However, there are several pieces of research that indicate that simply losing weight may be one of (if not the most) effective methods to reverse Type 2 Diabetes.
Weight loss can be achieved through a variety of methods from diet alone, to exercise or even medical interventions such as medicinal treatments and surgery. In each case, regardless of the means, the research appears to show that weight loss helps to reverse the effects of type 2 diabetes.
One such research study looked at the effects of weight loss strictly through dieting and limiting energy intake (EI), or food consumed. The study, published in Diabetologia, found that “Normalization of both beta cell function and hepatic insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes was achieved by dietary energy restriction alone.
This was associated with decreased pancreatic and liver Triacylglycerol stores. The abnormalities underlying type 2 diabetes are reversible by reducing dietary energy intake.” In simpler terms, by purely limiting the amount of food and energy taken in on a daily basis, the various processes or causes that spur type 2 diabetes regressed.
The methods used for weight loss vary as well from traditional or general fitness means such as dieting and mild exercise to more aggressive plans. One study from Mark Espeland of Wake Forest researched the effects of Intensive Lifestyle Interventions (ILI). According to the study, “At 1 year, ILI resulted in clinically significant weight loss in persons with type 2 diabetes. This was associated with improved diabetes control and CVD(cardiovascular) risk factors and reduced medicine use”.
However, it also appears consistency long term may be a greater factor in terms of overall weight loss and its effects on diabetes reversal. While some individuals may have the need and/or lifestyle factors that necessitate more aggressive plans, modest training and weight loss over time can still show positive effects. According to one study by the American Diabetes Association, “Modest weight losses of 5 to <10% were associated with significant improvements in CVD risk factors at 1 year, but larger weight losses had greater benefits.”
Perhaps most encouraging was research that utilized surgical fat loss in adolescents and the effects on their conditions post-surgery. The study was published in Issue 1 of the January 2009 issue of the journal Pediatrics. In the study, a gastric bypass surgery technique was used on extremely obese adolescents and they looked at the effects post surgery, and the results were certainly encouraging. According to the research, “Extremely obese diabetic adolescents experience significant weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.”
While there is no proverbial magic pill that can instantly cure type 2 diabetes, the research is extremely encouraging that utilizing weight loss through a variety of methods can help to stem or regress the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes should consult a healthcare professional on the appropriate method of weight loss for them, but it is certainly an effective route to help combat this terrible condition.
Always check with your doctor,and make a plan.
All the Best
Chef Murph
