Low-Calorie Diet and Drug Therapy Reverse Diabetes 

United States: A new clinical research project at The BMJ reveals a potential method which experts believe can eliminate type 2 diabetes. Each year 44% of participants who took dapagliflozin medication along with restrictive calorie diets developed a diabetes-free condition. The placebo group showed lower success rates with 28% reaching similar metric outcomes compared to 44% in the active intervention group, as reported by HealthDay. 

Head researcher and director of endocrinology and metabolism at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University China Dr. Xiaoying Li emphasized that the study introduced a workable treatment path for type 2 diabetes patients. 

How Dapagliflozin Supports Diabetes Management 

As a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin stops kidney glucose reabsorption to let excessive sugar pass through urine. The renal excretion process helps maintain blood sugar control while simultaneously creating weight reduction and enhancing cholesterol and blood pressure measurements. 

Study Design and Key Findings 

The clinical study included 300 obese and overweight Chinese adults struggling with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.  

  • Participants need to lower their daily calorie consumption between 500–750 calories. 
  • Take 150 minutes of brisk walking each week throughout the program. 
  • People in the study needed to reach a daily step count above 10,000. 

Each participant was randomly put into a group that received dapagliflozin or was given a placebo drug. The results showed: 

Higher Remission Rates: Results revealed that 44% of dapagliflozin users met the criteria for remission while this measurement occurred in only 28% of the placebo group. 

Weight Loss: The average weight loss for dapagliflozin patients reached 11 pounds. 

Improved Health Metrics: Participants on dapagliflozin showed better blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and reduced insulin resistance. 

Expert Commentary on Broader Impact 

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. David Hope of Imperial College London highlighted the significance of the findings. “The marked increase in remission levels with dapagliflozin and moderate calorie restriction is notable,” he stated, emphasizing the drug’s potential to aid weight loss and improve outcomes without requiring severe dietary changes. 

The editorial also suggested that less intense calorie restriction could make diabetes remission strategies more accessible to a larger population, as reported by HealthDay. 

A New Path for Diabetes Care 

This study underscores the potential of combining medication with manageable lifestyle changes to reverse type 2 diabetes, offering hope to millions of patients worldwide.