Inducing remission of Type 2 diabetes in the Caribbean: findings from a mixed methods feasibility study of a low-calorie liquid diet-based intervention in Barbados.
Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association 2019
Bynoe K, Unwin N, Taylor C, Murphy MM, Bartholomew L, Greenidge A, Abed M, Jeyaseelan S, Cobelli C, Dalla Man C, Taylor R
DOI : 10.1111/dme.14096
PubMed ID : 31365159
PMCID :
URL : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dme.14096
Abstract
In a high proportion of people with recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, a short (2-3-month) low-calorie diet is able to restore normal glucose and insulin metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of this approach in Barbados.
Twenty-five individuals with Type 2 diabetes diagnosed within past 6 years, not on insulin, BMI ≥ 27 kg/m were recruited. Hypoglycaemic medication was stopped on commencement of the 8-week liquid (760 calorie) diet. Insulin response was assessed in meal tests at baseline, 8 weeks and 8 months. Semi-structured interviews, analysed thematically, explored participants' experiences. 'Responders' were those with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 7 mmol/l at 8 weeks.
Ten men and 15 women (mean age 48, range 26-68 years) participated. Mean (sd) BMI was 34.2 kg/m (6.0); FPG 9.2 mmol/l (2.2). Mean weight loss at 8 weeks and 8 months was 10.1 kg [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.1, 12.0] and 8.2 kg (95% CI 5.8, 10.6); FPG was lower by 2.2 mmol/l (95% CI 1.2, 3.2) and 1.7 mmol/l (95% CI 0.8, 2.7) respectively. Nine of 11 (82%) of those who lost ≥ 10 kg were 'responders' compared with 6 of 14 (43%) who lost < 10 kg (P = 0.048). The 30-min insulin increment was higher in responders at baseline and follow-up (P ≤ 0.01). A food culture based on starchy foods and pressures to eat large amounts at social events were among the challenges identified by participants.
The feasibility of this approach to weight loss and diabetes remission in a predominantly black population in Barbados was demonstrated.