By Pam Brown, GP and Editor-in-Chief of Diabetes & Primary Care
First-year data from the 2-year cluster-randomised DiRECT study demonstrate that an initial low-calorie formula diet (825–850 kcal/day), followed by structured food reintroduction and a weight maintenance programme, resulted in 36 (24%) of the intervention group (n=149) achieving weight loss of 15 kg or more at 1 year compared with no participants in the control group. Diabetes remission (HbA1c <48 mmol/mol and off medication at 12 months) was achieved in 68 (46%) of the intervention group versus 6 (4%) of the control group. Remission was closely correlated to weight loss, with 86% of those losing 15 kg or more achieving it.
Along with other news from the 2017 IDF Congress, Nigel Campbell will cover this in more detail in Diabetes & Primary Care’s first issue of 2018.
Click here to access the article and here to read a comment from The Lancet (log in or purchase required).