TL;DR
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A randomized trial of 96 adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes and obesity found that 27 of 50 assigned to an intensive diet-and-exercise program met the study’s remission criteria after 24 weeks, compared with 2 of 46 receiving usual care. The result is promising but applies to a small, selected group and does not show that diabetes was permanently cured.
A randomized clinical trial found that 27 of 50 adults assigned to an intensive diet-and-exercise program met the study’s criteria for type 2 diabetes remission after 24 weeks, compared with 2 of 46 receiving usual care. The findings, reported for adults aged 18 to 45 with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes, suggest a structured lifestyle program may help some people reach remission, but do not establish a permanent cure.
The trial enrolled 96 adults at three research centers in England and Canada between September 2021 and June 2025. Participants were randomly assigned to the intensive program or standard medical care. They were not using insulin at enrollment. The study was open-label, so participants and researchers knew the assigned treatment, although the main outcome assessment was blinded. 86 participants completed final assessments.
For the first 12 weeks, the intensive group followed a daily diet of 800 to 900 calories and took part in supervised aerobic and resistance exercise twice weekly, with another exercise session done independently. The program then shifted toward weight maintenance, with participants continuing to exercise independently through week 24. The report says medications for blood sugar—and, under specified conditions, blood pressure—were stopped at the program’s start under medical supervision.
Remission was defined as an HbA1c below 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) without glucose-lowering medication for at least 12 weeks. HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over roughly three months. Researchers counted participants with missing remission data as not having achieved remission. The reported 54% and approximately 4% figures are the proportions in each assigned group; the results do not mean every participant responded to the program.
Remission Results in Younger Adults
Type 2 diabetes diagnosed at a younger age can mean more years living with the condition and, according to the study report, may be associated with faster deterioration in blood sugar control and earlier complications. A program that helps some younger adults reach remission could have implications for care, particularly if its benefits can be sustained and delivered safely outside a trial.
The difference between 54% in the intensive-program group and about 4% with usual care is a notable result from this study. It supports further evaluation of combined diet and exercise approaches, but the trial was small and lasted 24 weeks. It does not establish long-term remission rates, prove which part of the program produced the effect, or show that the same result would apply to all people with type 2 diabetes.
Remission is also not the same as a cure. The study’s definition describes blood sugar below the diagnostic threshold without glucose-lowering medication for a specified period. Ongoing follow-up remains relevant, and the report does not establish that participants can avoid future monitoring or treatment.
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How the Program Was Structured
Earlier research had found that very low-calorie diets could lower blood sugar enough for some people to meet remission criteria. The researchers behind this trial asked whether adding structured exercise could improve outcomes for adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes. Exercise may support fitness and help preserve muscle during weight loss, but this trial tested a combined program rather than isolating the effect of exercise from diet.
During the first two weeks, participants in the intensive group replaced meals with specially formulated products. From weeks three to 12, they retained the calorie target but had more food flexibility, including one conventional meal a day and specified amounts of protein, fruit and non-starchy vegetables. After week 12, the approach shifted toward maintaining weight loss. Participants were also advised to drink calorie-free fluids, and a fiber-based laxative was available if needed.
The research was conducted by teams affiliated with the University of Leicester, McGill University and the University of Alberta. The findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting and published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas, according to the supplied report.
“The study tested whether combining a low-calorie diet with supervised exercise could achieve remission after 24 weeks, compared with standard medical care.”
— The trial researchers, as summarized in the supplied ScienceDaily report
Limits of the 24-Week Findings
The results cover 96 participants, including 50 assigned to the intensive intervention, and follow-up reported here ends at 24 weeks. The supplied material does not provide longer-term results, so it is unclear how many participants remained in remission after the study period or whether additional treatment was needed later.
The account also does not provide detailed information on adverse events, the full statistical analysis, or the specific changes in fitness, body composition and heart structure that researchers examined. Although 86 participants completed final assessments, the report’s remission figures use all participants assigned to each group, with missing outcomes counted as non-remission. The reasons for missing assessments are not specified in the material.
Because the intervention combined severe calorie restriction, exercise and medically supervised medication changes, its results should not be treated as advice to stop medication or attempt the diet without clinical oversight. The findings are specific to adults aged 18 to 45 with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes who were not using insulin; applicability to other patients is not established by this trial.
Longer Follow-Up and Wider Testing
The immediate next question is whether remission persists beyond the 24-week study period. Longer follow-up would help show how often participants maintain the result, whether weight or blood sugar changes over time, and whether medication is restarted. The supplied report does not state a timeline for further results or describe a planned follow-up study.
Clinicians and researchers will also need evidence about how the intensive program can be implemented safely and consistently, including who may benefit, how medication changes should be managed, and what support is needed to maintain exercise and dietary changes. Until more information is available, the trial supports further study of the approach rather than a claim that it is appropriate for everyone with type 2 diabetes.
Key Questions
What did the study find?
27 of 50 participants assigned to the intensive program met the study’s remission criteria after 24 weeks. In the usual-care group, 2 of 46 participants did so.
How did the study define remission?
Participants needed an HbA1c below 6.5% and no glucose-lowering medication for at least 12 weeks. That is a study definition of remission, not evidence that diabetes has been permanently cured.
What did the intensive program involve?
It began with a daily intake of 800 to 900 calories, supervised aerobic and resistance exercise twice a week, and one independent exercise session weekly. After 12 weeks, participants moved toward maintaining weight loss while continuing exercise.
Does this mean people with diabetes should stop medication or follow a very low-calorie diet?
No. Medication changes in the trial occurred under medical supervision, and the results apply to a particular group of participants. The study does not justify changing medication or starting a severe calorie-restricted diet without guidance from a qualified clinician.
Is it known whether remission lasted beyond six months?
The supplied report gives outcomes at 24 weeks and does not provide longer-term results. Whether participants maintained remission after that point remains unclear.
Source: sciencedaily.com
