Is the shock treatment for Diabetes the right way forward?: Ki investigates

 

A drastic low-calorie diet has been heralded a “Wonder Cure for Diabetes” in the Daily Express last week.

 

Researchers from Newcastle University have found that a following an extreme diet of 600 calories per day for eight weeks could reverse the abnormalities underlying Type 2 diabetes in those individuals who have been recently diagnosed. These findings will be particularly interesting for the almost 2.5million people in Britain diagnosed with the condition that was previously thought to be irreversible.

 

The Daily Express was just one of many newspapers claiming that a “cure” had been found. However, this was a small study in only 11 obese people with Type 2 diabetes and further research is needed before such claims can be made.

 

But here at Ki we no that no body is the same and we have evidence to show that peoples’ metabolisms vary greatly. Even people of the same age, weight and height, undertaking exactly the same amount of physical activity can burn calories at substantially different rates. In some cases Ki have shown a 25% variation, so a 600 calorie a day diet is likely to affect us all differently.

 

The authors of the study warn that this extreme diet is not an easy fix, with the long-term impact of this diet on Type 2 diabetes and health unknown, and they advise people not to follow it without medical supervision. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes should continue to follow the advice of their doctor.

 

Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, low in fat, sugar and salt is important for managing Diabetes. A tool like the Ki system can help you do this. Its accurate minute by minute monitoring of your bodies behaviour will give you a wealth of information to be able to help control the impact of your condition on your life.