DiRECT: Type 2 diabetes remission through weight management

Ghrelin is the only appetite-related hormone that predicted weight regain among the participants of the DiRECT trial, say the researchers.

Sustained remission of type 2 diabetes in DiRECT was accompanied by normalization of pancreatic morphology, say the researchers.

The strongest predictor of type 2 diabetes remission is weight loss, with other variables only modestly associated with outcome and insufficient to identify people unsuitable for attempting this goal, shows a post-hoc analysis of DiRECT data.

People who achieved sustained remission of type 2 diabetes via substantial weight loss in the DiRECT trial regained normal maximal beta-cell capacity, the investigators report.

Type 2 diabetes remission can be achieved within 1 year at a cost below the average annual cost of diabetes management, even when including complications, shows an economic evaluation of the DiRECT/Counterweight-Plus weight management program.

Researchers from the DiRECT trial have reported large positive effects on liver fat and insulin secretion among people who achieved type 2 diabetes remission in response to a very-low-calorie diet.