Is Type II Diabetes Reversible? A newly developed diet allows regeneration of the pancreas

A fasting mimicking diet even reverses diabetes?
Is it possible that a special form of fasting helps to regenerate the pancreas? Researchers have now found that a fasting mimicking diet can actually result in pancreatic regeneration and possibly even reverse diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Southern California found in their study that special fasting can help regenerate the human pancreas, possibly even reversing diabetes. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Cell".

The so-called fasting mimicking diet helps the pancreas to regenerate. Maybe this will soon make it possible for diabetes to be completely reversed. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com)

Researchers are modifying the fasting mimicking diet
A special form of diet tries to combine the benefits of fasting without its risks. Researchers are now studying the effects of a modified version of the so-called fasting mimicking diet (FMD) on mice, but also on human cells.

First results achieved in mice
The results of the study showed that cycles of this diet can regenerate pancreatic cells and lead to the recovery of insulin in type 1 diabetic patients. So could possibly be reversed type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in mice, say the experts. In contrast to type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is a so-called autoimmune disease. In patients with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin.

Special diet helps with the regeneration of organs
The fasting mimicking diet could also help to regenerate other organs because studies have shown similar effects on blood cells, explains author. Valter Longo. According to the expert, the results indicate that special diets with very specific compositions can lead to regeneration processes in mice and possibly also in humans.

Effects of Modified FMD
Taking into account the challenges and side effects of fasting in humans, Dr. Longo and his team are a modified low-calorie, low-fat diet with low protein and carbohydrates. This diet causes changes in the levels of specific growth factors, glucose and ketone bodies. In addition, it reduces blood glucose levels in pre-diabetic patients, explain the physicians. When mice were given such a diet, glucose and insulin tolerance improved.

FMD programs cells and beta cells
The pancreas usually helps to control the blood sugar level. The regeneration of the pancreas can lead to the reversal of the symptoms of diabetes, explain the researchers. Cycles of the fasting mimicking diet help the pancreas to regenerate by reprogramming cells into beta cells. These then produce insulin. The results of the current study are very interesting because pancreatic cells usually replicate only at an extremely low rate in the adult pancreas, and tissue regeneration rarely occurs, say the physicians.

Special nutrition restores reduced insulin resistance in mice
The FMD cycles rescued the mice from the late stage of type 2 diabetes because they restored insulin secretion and reduced insulin resistance, the experts explain. This led to a significant improvement in the survival of the mice, the study authors continue to report. (As)