The key to the development of diabetes was found

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Until now, scientists did not know the reasons for the development of type 2 diabetes in people with a normal mass index of the body (BMI). The Reversal of Type 2 Diabetes After Normalization of Energy Intake Study in Non-Obese Patients (ReTUNE) showed that losing 10-15% of body weight can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes in people with a normal BMI. The results of the work were presented at the virtual annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) this year.

The researchers' findings contrast with the widely held belief that such patients can only be treated with medication. Type 2 diabetes has long been thought to have a different pathophysiology in people of normal weight, who are usually not counseled to lose weight but given immediate treatment, including insulin.

The ongoing ReTUNE study also found that liver fat levels and in the pancreas fell significantly, and the activity of cells that produce insulin in the pancreas was restored.

At this time, a liver fat level of less than 5.5% is considered healthy regardless of a person's BMI. However, with type 2 diabetes, there is probably more fat in the body than necessary, even if the person appears to be slim. The results also show that liver fat levels vary by weight, and that levels currently considered healthy may actually be harmful in lighter people. Therefore, the way liver fat is assessed needs to be changed to take BMI into account.

Study details

Formerly DiRECT, a landmark clinical trial in remission diabetes, provided data showing that intensive weight loss in overweight people can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes, along with a host of other benefits, including improvement in hypertension and even restoration of pancreatic function.

In the ReTUNE trial similarly looked at remission of type 2 diabetes, but in normal-weight patients. 12 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in it, the average age was 58.3 years, the average BMI was 24.5/m2 (all Read also: A simple blood test will reveal the chances of living to 100 years