TYPE 2 DIABETES
Professor Mike Lean DIABETES REMISSION CLINICAL TRIAL AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY
This used to be an old person’s condition, patients often dying before diabetes proved fatal, but Type 2 diabetes is increasing in young adults, teens and children due to rising levels of obesity. One in 10 people over 40 in the UK are diagnosed and almost one million more don’t know they have it, bringing the total number up to 4.7 million. By 2030 it is predicted this number will rise to 5.5 million.
Symptoms include going to the toilet a lot, being really thirsty, feeling tired and losing weight without trying. It can go undetected for many years, and by the time they’re diagnosed one in three people already has complications with their eyes, feet, kidneys or nerves.
“We need to treat Type 2 diabetes as the disease it is,” said Professor Mike Lean, co-leader of the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial at Glasgow University. To put it into perspective, breast cancer has an 80% survival rate, lymphoma has a 60% survival rate and Type 2 diabetes has a 50% survival rate. It’s not a mild condition and the biggest tragedy is that weight gain is the main trigger. Pointing that out can lead to accusations of fat shaming, but only the affected person can take the necessary actions.”
Professor Lean devised the “No Doubts Diet” which has been proven to reverse Type 2 diabetes in 9 out of 10 participants.
Professor Lean said: “We based the plan on a calorie intake of 830 calories per day. Increasing that to 1,000 or even 1,200 calories per day would still allow you to lose the weight, albeit a little more slowly.
“The meals are based on staples of porridge, soup and bread. Soup can be prepared in advance and frozen.
“Consider it a radical treatment to knock back the condition.Then you must move into a new normality, where a healthy diet continues the treatment, so it’s like re-setting your body.
“Weight loss is never easy, but if you are determined, following the No Doubts Diet for 8 weeks will lead to weight loss of at least 10 kg (1 stone 8 pounds).That is often enough for a remission of Type 2 diabetes, but you may need to lose 15kg (2 stone 5 pounds), which will take around 12 weeks.
“Talk to your GP about trying this diet for three months.”