It’s 10 years since Professor Roy Taylor revolutionised treatment for type 2 diabetes with a groundbreaking study that showed the disease could be reversed through rapid weight loss. Until his research was published, type 2 diabetes was thought to be an incurable, lifelong condition. Now, for many people, we know it is not. Show But his achievements – and the thousands of people he has cured – are not something he dwells upon. “I’m in a very lucky position of being able to do this research,” he says, “which really extends what I’ve been doing as a doctor throughout my life.” He laughs at the suggestion that he must occasionally marvel at his own success: “No, no,” he chuckles. “Lots of occupations make a useful contribution to society. I wouldn’t set myself apart.” Modest words for a man whose “useful contribution to society” has given hope to the 3.9m people diagnosed with the condition in the UK and who has shown doctors a new way to fight a disease which causes 185 amputations and 700 premature deaths every week. Now, he wants to go one step further and share everything he has learned directly with the public, in a new book, Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes. It’s a 153-page paperback that takes you through the latest research on how the disease develops and explains why rapid weight loss can be so effective at reversing the condition in the early stages – which usually means during the first six years of a diagnosis. “If people really do want to make it happen, then in the first few years of diagnosis, it’s almost universal that their health can be returned to normal,” says Taylor, who is professor of medicine and metabolism at Newcastle University. In one study, he found that nine out of 10 people with “early” type 2 diabetes were cured after losing more than 2½st (15kg). The book also explains who is at greatest risk and why some people who have a “normal” Body Mass Index (BMI) develop the disease, when many people who are more overweight – or even obese – do not. Taylor’s “Newcastle” weight loss programme is a clinically proven method of reversing early type 2 diabetes and his approach is currently being rolled out to people with the condition by the NHS. It involves cutting your calorie intake to 700-800 calories a day. In the book, he explains how the people in his programme managed to do this – typically by consuming only slimming meal shakes and non-starchy vegetables, plus one cup of tea or coffee each day with skimmed milk – lost a life-changing amount of weight in just eight weeks. And how you can do the same, safely, at home. It is almost universal that health can be returned to normal In other words, it is a book that has all the hallmarks of becoming a massive bestseller. But Taylor himself will not make a penny from it. He is donating 100% of his proceeds from the book to the charity Diabetes UK, which is “only logical”, he tells me, because they funded his original 2011 study. “That was so far sighted of them,” he says. “They supported research that I know the experts thought was outlandish.” He says just one person at the research committee meeting spoke up for his proposal and convinced the others by saying: “It might sound crazy, but if he’s right, it would be really important.” Taylor decided to write the book because, even though most diabetes experts in the UK have now accepted that his rapid weight loss programme works, many doctors in Europe and the USA remain unconvinced. “It’s not easy to get new ideas accepted in medicine. So it will be a while before this gets into the textbooks and generations of doctors are taught about it.” In the meantime, he feels it is his job – his “duty” even – to make people aware of the discoveries he and others have made in recent years. “I feel a responsibility for passing on this knowledge.” One of Taylor’s most important new discoveries is that everyone has their own fat threshold: an individual level of tolerance for levels of fat in the body. “It’s a personal thing. It’s nothing to do with the sort of information that’s often provided about obesity, which is about average BMI and what the population is doing. The bottom line is, a person will develop type 2 diabetes when they’ve become too heavy for their own body. It doesn’t matter if their BMI is within the ‘normal’ range. They’ve crossed their personal threshold and become unhealthy.” He is currently in the middle of research to find out whether there’s any way of discovering, via a blood test, when people are heading into this dangerous territory and their fat cells are putting out what he describes as “distress signals”. What we do know already is that our bodies start to have trouble controlling blood sugar when fat can no longer be stored safely under the skin and it spills over into the liver and then the pancreas. If these organs get clogged with fat, they stop functioning properly and that is when you develop type 2 diabetes. Everyone has their own level of tolerance for fat in their bodies It is particularly important to note that if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, you are more susceptible genetically. People in these circumstances need to be “very careful” about weight, especially in adult life, Taylor says. “If you’ve increased weight quite a lot above what you were at the age of 21, you’re in the danger zone – and you should get out of it. If you’ve got a family tendency for diabetes, then you really want to avoid weight gain in adult life.” As Taylor explains in his book, if you have increased your BMI by three units or more since you were in your early 20s, you are at risk. It doesn’t matter how slim you look to other people. “People imagine that if everybody says they’re slim, they won’t get type 2 diabetes, but in fact that’s not true. Our present research involves people who are not obese, and indeed, have a normal BMI.” This explains why only half of people are clinically obese when they are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and why studies have shown that almost three-quarters of extremely obese people, with a BMI of over 45, do not suffer from type 2 diabetes. “Some people can put on glorious amounts of fat and store it all under the skin without any metabolic problems at all.” Taylor also says that it’s important to bear in mind that type 2 diabetes can, at first, be symptomless, so people at risk may wish to get an annual test done via their GP. A simple finger-prick blood test, which gives an immediate blood sugar level result, can be done in many chemists. Signals to look out for include increasing tiredness and, especially, increasing thirst, and a tendency to have more skin infections, “like boils for instance, or candida,” Taylor says. Rapidly decreasing body weight by 2½st (16kg) will take most people below their personal fat threshold, dramatically lowering their risk. For this reason, “the book goes through the steps that people need to follow to lose a substantial amount of weight and then keep it off”. Taylor hopes that by writing a paperback in simple, accessible language, he will reach people who are heading towards or have already received a diagnosis and want to learn more about his research. “I’ve realised there is an enormous thirst out there for exact knowledge about how people can deal with this disease themselves, using the new information that we have.” He also wants to explain to as many people as possible what causes type 2 diabetes so individuals feel empowered to make healthy decisions about their body and the food they eat. “This book is for anyone who wants to understand what happens to food after they swallow it and how that’s handled by their body. And also, critically, how that affects their health.” For example, he has found most people don’t realise that if you eat more carbohydrates or protein than your body needs, the excess is converted into fat and then stored. This is a million miles from “fat shaming”, he says, and it is up to each person to decide for themselves whether they are too heavy for their own health and happiness. “What I can point out as a doctor are the circumstances that come about when people have crossed their personal fat threshold,” he says. “There’s no judgment on a person who happens to be heavy, compared with someone who happens not to be. It’s about helping individuals who would otherwise run into trouble.” Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes by Professor Roy Taylor (Short Books Ltd, £8.99). To support the Guardian order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term, chronic medical condition. It develops mostly in adults but is becoming more common in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several factors contribute to type 2 diabetes, including overweight and obesity. Type 2 diabetes can lead to life threatening complications, but with treatment, you can manage the condition or cause it to go into remission. Healthline has partnered with Profile by Sanford to provide more information about managing diabetes for better health through diet, exercise, and more. Doctors don’t talk about curing diabetes because, once a person has a diagnosis, they will always risk developing high blood sugar due to genetic factors and underlying problems with their beta cells. But treatment can cause type 2 diabetes to go into remission, which means keeping the condition under control. Still, you’ll need to continue with treatment to ensure it stays that way. Otherwise, blood sugar levels can easily rise again. Diabetes remission is when a person’s A1c is below 48 mmol/mol or less than 6.5% after stopping diabetes medication for 3 months or more. But remission does not mean that diabetes has gone away. You’ll need to manage your glucose levels with lifestyle measures to stay in remission. You’ll also need to attend follow-up appointments to ensure levels are appropriate. If glucose levels rise again, you may need to take more medication. Various lifestyle measures and medical options can help you get into remission. Weight lossThe best chance of getting into remission is by maintaining a moderate weight because excess fat affects how the body produces and uses insulin. It is best to do this as soon as possible after diagnosis. Still, some people have experienced remission up to 25 years after diagnosis. If a person with a high body mass index (BMI) loses 5% of their weight, they may see: Ways of managing type diabetes include: Get physicalBeginning an exercise routine is important for overall health, and it’ll also help you lose weight and start to reverse your symptoms. Ask your healthcare team to help you make a plan, keeping the following in mind:
The CDC recommends adults get 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. Walking is a good option. What are the best exercises for people with diabetes? Check your dietEating a nutrient-dense diet may help you get type 2 diabetes into remission. It can also help you:
Your doctor can help you plan a healthful and balanced diet, or they can refer you to a dietitian. A diabetes-friendly diet should include:
A doctor or dietitian can help you make a diet plan that includes the right amount of carbs for your lifestyle and activity levels. Knowing how to manage carbs is a key tool for managing diabetes. Some people follow a low-carbohydrate diet, which is no more than 130 grams (g) of carbs a day, or 26% of your daily intake of calories. Speak with a healthcare professional about strategies and targets to suit you. Some people recommend a ketogenic diet for managing type 2 diabetes because it can help you lose weight. But research has produced conflicting results, and some studies suggest it may not be safe for everyone. Instead of restricting carbs, some experts recommend focusing on carb quality. Whole grains, for example, can provide nutritional benefits absent in processed carbs. For now, the best option is to make an individual plan for managing diabetes instead of a specific diet type. Dietary choices and regular exercise are key tools for managing diabetes. They can help a person enter remission, slow the progress of the disease, and avoid unwanted complications. Profile by Sanford offers one-on-one nutrition coaching with a dietician and custom weight-loss plans for those who have chronic medical conditions, including diabetes. MedicationMany people manage type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise, but some may need medication to help keep their blood sugar levels within the target range. This will depend on the person’s:
Here are some types of drugs that can help reduce glucose levels or boost insulin production: If these drugs do not help, the doctor may prescribe insulin. Other drugs can lower the risk of complications, such as heart disease and related issues: Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. When your blood sugar (glucose) levels rise, the pancreas releases insulin. This causes glucose to move from your blood to your cells to provide energy. As glucose levels in your blood fall, your pancreas stops releasing insulin. Type 2 diabetes affects how you metabolize sugar. With type 2 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or your body has become resistant to its action. This causes hyperglycemia, when glucose builds up in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that happens when the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells in the pancreas. Why this happens is unclear, but genetic factors and family history likely play a role. If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas makes little to no insulin. In the early stages, lifestyle measures can help manage glucose levels with type 2 diabetes. But if you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to inject insulin regularly to metabolize glucose. There’s no cure for type 1 diabetes, and you can’t reverse it. Still, the condition can be managed with medication. With type 2, you can often manage it with lifestyle measures. What are the complications of diabetes? Some 2019 studies suggest the following options may help reverse type 2 diabetes:
But more research is needed to confirm the findings. Reversing diabetes permanently is not possible now, and there will always be a risk of blood sugar levels rising again. But a doctor can help you manage your glucose levels, which can slow the progression of diabetes and prevent complications. How long does it take to see remission?This will depend on individual factors such as your blood sugar levels, how long they have been high, and whether you have obesity. Experts define remission as having A1c levels below 48 mmol/mol or lower than 6.5% after stopping medication for at least 3 months. How long will diabetes stay in remission?Experts do not know how long remission can last, but some anecdotal evidence suggests it’s possible to be in remission for up to 15 years. But remission is a process. Once in remission, you’ll need to keep managing your glucose levels to stay in remission. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and it can worsen over time. It may be in remission for a while, but you may need treatment adjustments if it progresses. Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which blood sugar levels become too high. This can lead to changes throughout the body and the risk of various complications, some of which can be life threatening. It is not possible to cure diabetes, but various strategies can help you keep glucose levels within your target range and reduce the risk of complications. Ways of doing this include diet, exercise, and, in some cases, medication. A doctor can help you make a plan that suits your specific needs because each person’s experience of diabetes will be different. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, always talk with your doctor before starting any new treatment and management options. Your doctor can help you develop the best plan to address your healthcare needs. Last medically reviewed on July 6, 2022 Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Jul 6, 2022 Written By Mary Ellen Ellis Medically Reviewed By Kelly Wood, MD Copy Edited By Douglas Backstrom Jul 13, 2021 Written By Mary Ellen Ellis Edited By Stephanie Orford Copy Edited By Copy Editors |