Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered to be an inevitably progressive disease. Complex therapies add to the financial and psychological burden. Very low-calorie diets (LCDs) are emerging as an option in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Methods: We performed a clinical audit of patients with T2DM who received 12 weeks of LCD.
Results: This case series documents that 6 out of 12 participants (median baseline HbA1c 9%) achieved HbA1c level in nondiabetes range with LCD despite stopping all antidiabetes medications. There was an improvement in serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, C-Reactive protein, urine microalbumin, liver transaminases, liver fat and the indices of insulin resistance, beta cell secretory capacity, and insulin sensitivity.
Conclusion: If long-term follow-up proves sustained benefits, such dietary restriction may be an alternative to more drastic options for reversal of type 2 diabetes. This may also help in changing the treatment perspective of a newly detected T2DM from an incurable and inevitably progressive disease to a potentially reversible disease.
Keywords: Nutrition; obesity; reversal; type 2 diabetes; very low-calorie diet.