A soup and shake diet introduced by the NHS can stave off type 2 diabetes for at least five years, new research has shown.
Almost a quarter of people who were in remission from diabetes two years after starting a low-calorie diet were still free of the condition three years later.
Experts say it is further evidence that lifestyle changes rather than medication can help tackle the disease, which was described in the UK last week as a “rapidly rising crisis”.
They believe losing weight and losing weight is the key to curing the serious condition that has been on the rise alongside obesity for the past decade.
The latest findings are a follow-up to the original study, which nearly halved the number of diabetes cases among participants in the year-long program.
As part of the program, participants are fed a low-calorie, nutritious complete soup and shake diet that totals about 800 calories per day for 12 to 20 weeks. They also get support from a nurse or dietician to reintroduce healthy foods and maintain weight loss while taking medication for type 2 diabetes and blood pressure. The new study data showed that nearly a quarter of people who were in remission two years after starting the low-calorie diet were still free of the condition three years later.
As a result of its early success, more than 2,000 people have so far started treatment under NHS England’s low-calorie diet programme, which is offered by around half of England’s public health authorities.
The full expansion of the program is expected to be completed by March next year, and doctors hope it will save tens of thousands of people from developing the disease each year.
As part of the program, participants are fed a low-calorie, nutritious complete soup and shake diet that totals about 800 calories per day for 12 to 20 weeks.
They also get support from a nurse or dietician to reintroduce healthy foods and maintain weight loss while taking medication for type 2 diabetes and blood pressure.
At the end of the original two-year study, 95 of the 149 participants in the weight loss program agreed to participate in a three-year follow-up study.
This new data shows that 48 of them were in remission at the start of the extension study and 23 percent of them were still in remission three years later – after they managed to lose weight.
The number of people who were in remission five years after the start of the original study was more than three times that of the control group, who received only usual primary care.
DR Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, which funded the study, said the new results confirm that it is possible to stay in long-term remission.
She said: “For those who put type 2 diabetes into remission, it can be life-changing and offer a better chance for a healthier future.
“For those who cannot go into remission, weight loss can still lead to major health benefits, including improved blood sugar levels and a reduced risk of serious diabetes complications such as heart attack and stroke.”
The results confirmed that remission was closely linked to weight loss, with those who managed to maintain a healthy weight keeping things pretty clear.
Those who gained more than just over 2kg in academic years three to five were offered an additional support package once a year.
This consisted of the low-calorie soup and shake diet for another four weeks, followed by help re-establishing normal meals.
Compared to the control group, those who provided diet and support showed greater improvements in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and fewer people required medication.
The rate of serious health problems leading to hospitalizations was also less than half that in the diet group compared to the control group.
The results come a week after it was revealed that the number of diabetes cases in the UK exceeded 5 million for the first time.
According to figures, almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021-2022, while another 850,000 people were living with the disease without knowing they had it.
About 90 percent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which is related to obesity and is usually diagnosed in middle age, rather than type 1 diabetes, a genetic condition that is usually diagnosed early in life.
Professor Jonathan Valabhji, Head of Diabetes and Obesity at NHS England, said: “The NHS is already making the most of this research for patients through our low calorie diet programme, which has shown fantastic initial results; and we plan to expand the program nationwide to give thousands more the opportunity to shed pounds and improve their health.
With participants losing an average of more than five pounds in three months and maintaining that weight loss after six months, the introduction of low-calorie diets in the NHS could help many more people turn the tide of type 2 diabetes and potentially reduce their risk of serious health consequences.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
