A Cure for Type 2 Diabetes? Lose 1 Gram of Fat
Losing just one gram of fat can help to reverse type 2 diabetes, but where that fat comes from makes all the difference in the world.
Researchers from the University of Newcastle found that a slight dip in pancreatic fat was enough to lesson symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Based on the findings, the team concluded that excess fat in the pancreas is a symptom specific to type 2 diabetes, as even obese patients without diabetes did not have high levels of fat build-up in this organ.
"If you ask how much weight you need to lose to make your diabetes go away, the answer is 1 gram! But that gram needs to be fat from the pancreas," said lead study author Roy Taylor. "At present the only way we have to achieve this is by calorie restriction by any means – whether by diet or an operation."
Results from gastric bypass
The study included 18 obese patients with type 2 diabetes who were tracked both before and after gastric bypass surgery.
The surgery enabled patients to burn off extra fat in the pancreas and restore insulin levels to normal.
"In other words, they were diabetes free," a press release on the study stated.
All the participants lost the same amount of weight following the surgery - about 13 percent of their body weight - but diabetics lost 1.2 percent of that fat from the pancreas. In people without diabetes, pancreatic fat levels after gastric bypass stayed the same.
"The decrease in pancreas fat is not simply related to the weight loss itself. It is not something that might happen to anyone whether or not they had diabetes. It is specific to Type 2 diabetes," Taylor said. "What is interesting is that regardless of your present body weight and how you lose weight, the critical factor in reversing your Type 2 diabetes is losing that 1 gram of fat from the pancreas."
Source: Science Alert
Image courtesy of Toa55/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...