Study: Any remission of diabetes from weight-loss trial associated with lower rates of heart and kidney disease

Medical Xpress / Diabetologia ^ | Jan. 18, 2024 | Edward W. Gregg et al

[ConservativeMind]

While several trials have shown that substantial weight loss using diet and lifestyle can reverse type 2 diabetes, new research is among the first to show the subsequent impact of remission on cardiovascular outcomes.

The new study shows that in patients that took part in the Look AHEAD study, those with any evidence of remission had a 40% lower rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 33% lower rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The Look AHEAD study was a multi-center RCT that compared the effect of a 12-year intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) with that of diabetes support and education (DSE) on CVD and other long-term health conditions.

The authors applied an epidemiological definition of remission: taking no diabetes medications and having a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c—a measure of blood sugar control) of <48 mmol/mol (6.5%) at a single point in time.

Compared to participants without remission, participants with evidence of any diabetes remission during follow-up had a 33% lower rate of CKD and a 40% lower rate of CVD.

The authors say they observed three main findings related to the implications of achieving diabetes remission. First, although 18% of participants achieved remission at some point during follow-up, the percentage of participants with current remission had decreased to 3% by the eighth year of the study.

Second, despite the relatively short-lived durations of most episodes of remission, they found that any achievement of remission was associated with 33% and 40% lower rates of CKD and CVD, respectively, compared with participants who did not achieve remission, and risk reduction was even greater (55% and 49%, respectively) among those who had evidence of at least 4 years of remission.

Third, participants with a short duration of diabetes, low starting HbA1c and a large magnitude of weight loss were most likely to experience remission.

[ConservativeMind]

Very tangible benefits for kidneys and cardiovascular disease from getting your diabetes into remission for just a short while, with somewhat more benefits for doing so at least four years.

It seems our bodies can be very forgiving, sometimes.

[ConservativeMind]

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