Research
Energy balance
Low-Calorie Diets (LCD), specifically very low-calorie diets (VLCD) of 600-853 kcal/day, can induce Type 2 Diabetes remission in the short term (up to 2 years), particularly in patients with shorter diabetes duration (<4-6 years).
Very Low-Calorie Diets (600-853 kcal/day) using meal replacements for 3-5 months can reverse Type 2 Diabetes in nearly half of patients, especially if diagnosed recently. This approach works by reducing liver and pancreas fat. However, maintaining remission long-term is challenging, and success is highest in those with shorter diabetes duration.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
evidence suggests that a LCD is effective in reversing diabetes in the short term up to two years, and its effectiveness was predominantly demonstrated in those with shorter duration since diabetes diagnosis.
Why this rating
Supported by RCTs like DiRECT and Taylor et al. studies.
Source
Reversing Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review of the Evidence
Sarah J. Hallberg et al. · Nutrients · 2019
DOI 10.3390/nu11040766
narrative_reviewCited 175×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy) achieves the highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) remission compared to dietary interventions, with short-term remission rates up to 80% and long-term durability superior to non-surgical methods.Good
- Carbohydrate-Restricted Diets (LC), particularly very low-carbohydrate/ketogenic diets (<20-50g carbs/day), can reverse Type 2 Diabetes without intentional calorie restriction, with sustained remission rates up to 54% at two years in supported interventions.Good
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
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