An extremely low-calorie diet could eliminate a dependence on insulin and reduce the amount of fatty tissue around the heart in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study presented to the Radiological Society of North America this week.
Researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands looked at cardiac function and fat around the heart in 15 patients who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. For four months, the volunteers were put on a strictly-controlled diet, eating only 500 calories a day.
"It is striking to see how a relatively simple intervention of a very low-calorie diet effectively cures Type 2 diabetes," lead researcher Sebastian Hammer said in a statement. "Moreover, these effects are long-term, illustrating the potential of this method. Lifestyle interventions may have more powerful beneficial cardiac effects than medication in these patients."
The researchers warn that not every diabetes sufferer is eligible for this type of treatment; patients should consult with a doctor before making any changes to their diets.