A new study led by Andrea Luk from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, published in PLOS Medicine, reveals a sobering reality for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Contrary to clinical trial expectations, achieving normal blood glucose levels through weight loss alone is rare in real-world conditions.
The study examined 37,326 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients in Hong Kong to understand the real-world feasibility of controlling diabetes through weight loss.
The findings were striking: only 6% of individuals achieved remission solely via weight loss within approximately eight years post-diagnosis.
Moreover, among those who initially experienced remission, about two-thirds saw their blood glucose levels rise again within three years.
These figures contrast sharply with clinical trials, where remission rates reached up to 73% at one year after diagnosis.
The study noted that the highest chances of sustained remission were among people who lost the most weight in their first year.
This research underscores the challenge of managing type 2 diabetes through weight management alone, particularly over the long term.
The discrepancy between real-world experiences and clinical trials is partly due to the intensive lifestyle interventions offered in trials, including comprehensive support for diet, physical activity, and mental health.
The researchers advocate for early weight management interventions as a strategy to improve the likelihood of sustained remission.
They emphasize that sustained lifestyle changes are crucial, given the low incidence of long-term remission in real-world settings.
Luk comments on the grim reality: while greater weight loss in the first year post-diagnosis increases the chances of remission, the overall rate of sustained diabetes remission is low, with many returning to high blood sugar levels within three years.
This finding highlights the need for ongoing support and interventions beyond just weight loss for effective long-term diabetes management.
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The research findings can be found in PLoS Medicine.
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