Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

Our work has shown that type 2 diabetes is not inevitably progressive and life-long. We
have demonstrated that in people who have had type 2 diabetes for 4 years or less, major
weight loss returns insulin secretion to normal.

It has been possible to work out the basic mechanisms which lead to type 2 diabetes. Too
much fat within liver and pancreas prevents normal insulin action and prevents normal
insulin secretion. Both defects are reversible by substantial weight loss.

A crucial point is that individuals have different levels of tolerance of fat within liver and
pancreas. Only when a person has more fat than they can cope with does type 2 diabetes
develop. In other words, once a person crosses their personal fat threshold, type 2 diabetes
develops. Once they successfully lose weight and go below their personal fat threshold,
diabetes will disappear.

Some people can tolerate a BMI of 40 or more without getting diabetes. Others cannot
tolerate a BMI of 22 without diabetes appearing, as their bodies are set to function normally
at a BMI of, say 19. This is especially so in people of South Asian ethnicity.

Information for people with diabetes

 Download the information leaflet: Reversing Type 2 Diabetes (PDF: 269KB)

 Get sample vegetable recipes and meal plans from the Reversing Diabetes Low Calorie
Diet Programme (PDF: 375KB) devised by Miss Karen Heron, Dietician, Newcastle
Diabetes Centre. More information on low calorie diets is available from the Diabetes
UK website.

 The British Heart Foundation provide advice on weight loss.

 Read Richard Doughty's personal story Type 2 diabetes and the diet that cured me on
the Guardian website, including a video interview of another personal story and an
update from Richard, I reversed my diabetes in just 11 days, on the Mail Online.

Information for your doctor

It is important that people with diabetes discuss their management with their own doctor. It
will take years for this new knowledge to become incorporated into textbooks and
guidelines, so your doctor may be wary of information from the internet.

Newcastle University researchers have written some notes for you to take to your doctor.
Download our information sheet for doctors on the practical management of type 2 diabetes
in respect of reversal (PDF: 220KB).

Further Reading
 In 2008, we published the Twin Cycle Hypothesis to explain the cause of type 2
diabetes. This hypothesis predicted that diet could entirely reverse type 2 diabetes.
Read our scientific review, Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes on the US National Library
of Medicine website.

 A clinical study designed to test the hypothesis was funded by Diabetes UK. The results
were very clear. Weight loss averaging 15kg (2 stone 5lb) achieved over 8 weeks
caused two distinct sets of changes. Within 7 days, liver fat had fallen by 30%, liver
insulin sensitivity had returned to normal and fasting blood glucose had become
normal. By 8 weeks, pancreas fat content had returned to normal and insulin secretion
by the pancreas had returned to normal. Read the full scientific paper, Reversal of type
2 diabetes and the related Newcastle University Press Release, Diet Reverses Type 2
Diabetes.

 This new understanding of what causes type 2 diabetes and how it can be completely
reversed has been used by individuals worldwide, a report has been published
documenting practical management of type 2 diabetes in respect of reversal (PDF:
84KB).

 Professor Taylor was awarded the 2012 Banting Lectureship of Diabetes UK. Read his
lecture Reversing the twin cycles of Type 2 diabetes (PDF: 543KB).

 Scientists and doctors with access to the journal Diabetes Care, can read a full review
of the science underlying this matter: Type 2 diabetes: etiology and reversibility.

 Read our latest artcicle on the effect of the duration of type 2 diabetes on reversibility.