Type 2 Diabetes Remission

Recent guidelines in most developed countries have included recommendations and plans for remission of type 2 diabetes. The possibility of remission is greatest in those with recent onset of type 2 diabetes who are overweight or obese. The goal for these patients is not cure but rather remission to the point where medications are not required to control blood sugar.

The key driver of remission appears to be weight loss. In Canada and the United Kingdom, the recommendation is for rapid weight loss via a low calorie diet. Both countries recommend a “soup and shakes” low calorie diet, often 800-900 calories for a short period of time to achieve the desired weight loss. The evidence for the effectiveness of these low calorie diets comes from the diabetes remission clinical trials (DiRECT 1 and DiRECT 2).