Expert So diabetics can get their illness under control without medication

To live permanently without drugs in diabetes? It can work that way!

Around seven million people in Germany suffer from diabetes mellitus - often referred to as diabetes. About 95 percent of sufferers are affected by type 2 diabetes. A large proportion of these people depend on medication every day. But there are also ways to get along as diabetics largely without medication. Researchers recently tested in a study promising ways to enable people with diabetes a life without continuous medication.

Experts from the German Diabetes Society comment on a study published in the journal "The Lancet". The study results show how people with diabetes can succeed in the long term without medication. In particular, those who developed diabetes as a result of overweight and obesity have good chances, according to the experts, to live off their diet by changing their lifestyle.

Living permanently without medication and injecting diabetes is possible for many sufferers - assuming a change in life. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Diet has massive influences on the disease process

"The human being is what he eats," recognized the German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach in 1850. As the clinical study in the "Lancet" proves, can succeed diabetics with obesity to get the metabolic disease without drugs under control by change their diet and exercise physically. Which measures are particularly effective for which patients? med. Andreas Pfeiffer, Head of the Clinical Working Group of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD).

Being overweight can cause diabetes

"People with type 2 diabetes suffer from insulin resistance, which means that their pancreas produce insulin, but it is released in too small amounts or does not work well enough on the target cells," explains Pfeiffer in a press release. In addition to a genetic predisposition, especially obesity promotes such a resistance, as the organs and muscles become fatigued.

With proper nutrition and exercise away from the syringe

The study shows that a low-calorie, healthy diet and sufficient exercise make it possible for patients with Type 2 diabetes to regain their insulin resistance and stop reliant on medication. "A calorie-reduced diet and exercise stimulate the burning of fat in the organs, such as the liver, and the muscles and increase their insulin sensitivity again," explains the professor. Therefore, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, nutritional therapy as well as the increase of physical activity come first.

About the study

The study, published in "The Lancet," involved 298 overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. The subjects participated in an intensive weight reduction program aimed at reducing their weight by 15 kilograms or more. Around half of the participants achieved this goal and reaped enormous health benefits: their sugar metabolism normalized. The more they lost weight, the greater the benefits. With 15 pounds of weight loss, the symptoms of diabetes in 85 percent of the participants went back, with ten pounds of weight loss showed 50 percent a significant improvement. Starting at five kilos less on the ribs, there was an improvement in 20 percent.

A lifestyle that is worthwhile

"The prospect of getting diabetes type 2 without drugs or insulin injections under control is a high motivation for those affected," says Pfeiffer. Nonetheless, many sufferers find it difficult to achieve a long-term life change. It is therefore all the more important to offer these patients an intensive weight-loss program within the first five years after diagnosis.

15 pounds of weight loss are promising

"Our experience shows that such a strong weight loss is most easily realized with a formula formula," advises the expert. This low-calorie diet consumes only 500 to 800 calories a day. Thus, in eight to twelve weeks in more than 90 percent of cases, a weight reduction of 15 kilograms or more can be achieved. In addition, the formula food ensures all essential nutrients. To keep the weight, then an intensive follow-up program with a change in diet to a healthy diet is necessary.

Permanent change in lifestyle

However, the decline in symptoms, ie the remission of diabetes, does not mean that it has completely healed. "We speak of a remission, if the symptoms of a disease are reduced to normalization - this can be the case both temporarily and permanently," adds Professor. med. Jens Aberle of the German Diabetes Society. There is a risk that the type 2 diabetes will return after a certain time, summarizes the expert. (Vb)