A study recently published in Diabetic Medicine found that losing as little as 10 percent of body weight can put type 2 diabetes into remission for some people. The prospective cohort study looked at 867 people ages 40 to 69 years with newly diagnosed diabetes. At five-year follow-up, 30 percent of participants were in remission (HbA1c of less than 6.5 percent). Those who had achieved at least 10 percent weight loss in the first year after diagnosis had a significantly higher likelihood of remission. Losing that amount of weight in any of the following five years was also associated with remission.
Prior interventional trials have confirmed that lifestyle interventions with healthier diets, increased physical activity, and modest weight loss can lead to significant remission. This study supports the benefits of modest weight loss in recently-diagnosed individuals.