The UK based DiRECT clinical trial
The DiRECT clinical trial published in December 2017 focused on the effects of weight-loss using 800 calorie meal replacements and subsequent weight maintenance as a method to potentially reverse type 2 diabetes.
The trial involved splitting over 280 patients across the UK into 2 groups. One group received traditional GP care whilst the treatment group received low calorie total diet replacement.
Overall almost 1 in 2 (46%) managed to reverse their diabetes. The likelihood of reversal was closely linked to the amount of weight loss.
For people who lost more than 15kg, almost 9 out of 10 (86%)managed to reverse their diabetes!
Other benefits included lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, lower use of medication and a feeling of improved quality of life.
It is important to remember this is not a cure for type 2 diabetes. If you regain the weight it may return therefore maintaining the weight loss is crucially important.
The UK based DROPLET clinical trial
The groundbreaking DROPLET trial was published in 2018. During this trial, 270 adult participants who had a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 were recruited in 10 primary care practices in the UK.
The practices were randomly assigned to provide either a weight management intervention like our Fast 4 Plan or routine support. The weight management intervention included total meal replacement (ca. 800 kcal/day) followed by a phased food reintroduction phase and a subsequent long-term weight maintenance phase.
Participants in the total meal replacement group lost an average of 10.7kg compared to 3.1kg in the usual care group, maintained at 12 months. The intervention group also had greater improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic risk markers than the standard care group.