SCIENCE
Crash Diet Could Lower Diabetes Risk
A new study suggests that following a crash diet could be the best way to decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers from the Prevention of diabetes through lifestyle Intervention and population studies in Europe and around the World (PREVIEW) study found that weight loss resulting in 10 percent of total body weight could cut the risk of developing the chronic disease by up to 90 percent, writes The Daily Mail.
Researchers from eight countries worked together to compile and analyze data to investigate the best way combat the disease, which was once thought to be incurable.
The researchers studied 2,300 participants with pre-diabetes. Each of the participants was asked to follow a diet over an eight-week period, consuming just soups and milkshakes to make up their daily calorie count.
The participants also engaged in regular controlled exercise sessions, further leading to a drop in the risk of developing diabetes.
Increasing numbers of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has been linked to the high number of people who are overweight and struggling with obesity. Worldwide, 108 people have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to figures from the World Health Organization.
That figure has more than doubled since 1996 and by 2025 it is estimated that 5 million people will have the condition.
On average, the study's participants lost 23lb (10 kg) or 10.8 per cent of their body weight after following the calorie-restrictive eight-week plan.
Following the eight-week program, participants were then split into different groups so researchers could monitor the effects of different exercise plans, protein diets and glycemic index diets.
Researchers believe that the crash diet will help people effectively reduce the risk of diabetes over a three-year period.
The findings from the study will be presented at the European Obesity Summit, held in Sweden.
Type 2 diabetes generally develops when the body does not produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Scientists believe that type 2 diabetes can mitigate the condition as decreasing the amount of fat on the pancreas allows the body's insulin production processes to function as normal.
