Low‑calorie diet and exercise bring early type 2 diabetes remission in half of patients

A 24‑week trial in the UK and Canada studied 96 adults with early‑onset type 2 diabetes and obesity who were not on insulin. Participants were split evenly between a normal lifestyle and a program that combined an 800–900‑calorie diet with twice‑weekly supervised aerobic and resistance training plus a weekly independent workout. After the initial 12 weeks of the low‑energy diet, everyone switched to a weight‑maintenance plan and kept exercising for another 12 weeks. At 24 weeks, 27 of 50 people in the intervention group were in remission, compared with only two participants in the control group – a 50 % difference achieved without glucose‑lowering drugs.

The intervention not only reduced fat mass but also preserved muscle mass and strength, which is important for insulin sensitivity. Participants saw a 10.3 % rise in respiratory fitness per kilogram of body weight, lower resting blood pressure and heart rate, and a healthier left‑ventricular shape. Surveys reported less distress about diabetes and higher quality of life. While the study lasted only six months, the authors suggest longer follow‑up is needed to confirm how long the benefits last and whether diet or exercise has a greater impact. Their findings support that a combined low‑energy diet and structured exercise can deliver remission and broader health benefits for people with early‑onset type 2 diabetes.