8 votes

GPs to prescribe very low calorie diets in hope of reversing diabetes

10 comments

  1. [6]
    demifiend
    Link
    It might be possible to live on 800 calories a day, but you'll be fucking miserable the whole time. I know this because I've tried it several times over the last 20 years. I was hungry all the...
    • Exemplary

    It might be possible to live on 800 calories a day, but you'll be fucking miserable the whole time. I know this because I've tried it several times over the last 20 years. I was hungry all the time, and my doctor wouldn't prescribe anything that would help dampen appetite or ease cravings.

    5 votes
    1. [4]
      boot20
      Link Parent
      That's the reality of it as well. It is far more complex than reducing calories. It also requires mental health support to help people change their lives to not be food focused.
      • Exemplary

      That's the reality of it as well. It is far more complex than reducing calories. It also requires mental health support to help people change their lives to not be food focused.

      3 votes
      1. [3]
        demifiend
        Link Parent
        Mental health support? In America? For men? ... ... ... ... ... You're joking, right?

        Mental health support? In America? For men?

        ...
        ...
        ...
        ...
        ...

        You're joking, right?

        5 votes
        1. [2]
          boot20
          Link Parent
          I mean it's men and women. Hell, my wife can't go to a mental health professional, she could lose her medical license and there is complete lack of support through insurance. The rest of your...

          I mean it's men and women. Hell, my wife can't go to a mental health professional, she could lose her medical license and there is complete lack of support through insurance.

          The rest of your comment I agree with. Mental health support in the US is extremely shitty and why we will not solve the obesity issue until we include it.

          6 votes
          1. demifiend
            Link Parent
            At least women can admit to having mental problems like depression without receiving as much sexist stigma. A woman might be told to "snap out of it", but a man will hear that with a helping of...

            At least women can admit to having mental problems like depression without receiving as much sexist stigma. A woman might be told to "snap out of it", but a man will hear that with a helping of "man up" and "stop being such a pussy" on the side.

            Not to denigrate the challenges women face, but there are reasons the successful suicide rate for men is higher than that of women -- and it isn't just because men don't fuck around.

            2 votes
  2. calcifer
    Link
    That's a scary high number... Like, holy shit!

    About 10% of the NHS budget is spent on treating diabetes

    That's a scary high number... Like, holy shit!

    3 votes
  3. [3]
    boot20
    Link
    I mean diet and exercise have always helped reduce the impact. I don't think a low cal diet will reverse diabetes, but it will reduce A1C and keep blood sugars down day to day.

    I mean diet and exercise have always helped reduce the impact. I don't think a low cal diet will reverse diabetes, but it will reduce A1C and keep blood sugars down day to day.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      mftrhu
      Link Parent
      I haven't seen it linked in the article, but they are probably referencing Lean et al., 2018:

      I haven't seen it linked in the article, but they are probably referencing Lean et al., 2018:

      We recruited individuals aged 20–65 years who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past 6 years, had a body-mass index of 27–45 kg/m 2, and were not receiving insulin. The intervention comprised withdrawal of antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs, total diet replacement (825–853 kcal/day formula diet for 3–5 months), stepped food reintroduction (2–8 weeks), and structured support for long-term weight loss maintenance. Co-primary outcomes were weight loss of 15 kg or more, and remission of diabetes, defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c) of less than 6·5% (<48 mmol/mol) after at least 2 months off all antidiabetic medications, from baseline to 12 months.

      At 12 months, we recorded weight loss of 15 kg or more in 36 (24%) participants in the intervention group and no participants in the control group (p<0·0001). Diabetes remission was achieved in 68 (46%) participants in the intervention group and six (4%) participants in the control group (odds ratio 19·7, 95% CI 7·8–49·8; p<0·0001). Remission varied with weight loss in the whole study population, with achievement in none of 76 participants who gained weight, six (7%) of 89 participants who maintained 0–5 kg weight loss, 19 (34%) of 56 participants with 5–10 kg loss, 16 (57%) of 28 participants with 10–15 kg loss, and 31 (86%) of 36 participants who lost 15 kg or more.

      5 votes