A recent evaluated the effectiveness of food-based dietary approaches in achieving remission for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A systematic search of Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science was conducted to identify longitudinal studies, which were then assessed for quality. The analysis included 52 studies, with 40% rated as low-risk for bias. The results indicated that the low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet (LCMD) was more effective than low-fat diets in achieving T2D remission, particularly for newly diagnosed patients with up to 6 kg of weight loss. Additionally, the LCMD outperformed both the traditional Mediterranean diet and the American Diabetes Association diet in patients with varying durations of T2D, with a more substantial weight loss of 8 kg needed for remission.

The study also found that diets high in plant protein sources were effective in achieving T2D remission, with less weight loss required compared to low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets. For newly diagnosed patients, plant-based diets may offer a promising strategy for remission. However, for patients with T2D lasting more than two years, combining plant-based diets with greater weight loss should be considered to improve the chances of remission. These findings suggest that dietary modifications, particularly focusing on plant protein and weight management, can play a critical role in the management and potential remission of T2D.

Reference: Mozaffari H, Madani Civi R, Askari M, et al. The impact of food-based dietary strategies on achieving type 2 diabetes remission: A systematic review. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2024 Aug;18(8):103096. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.103096. Epub 2024 Aug 14. PMID: 39163706.