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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
Author(s) -
Bynoe K.,
Unwin N.,
Taylor C.,
Murphy M. M.,
Bartholomew L.,
Greenidge A.,
Abed M.,
Jeyaseelan S.,
Cobelli C.,
Dalla Man C.,
Taylor R.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.14096
Subject(s) - medicine , calorie , confidence interval , meal , diabetes mellitus , insulin , type 2 diabetes , weight loss , type 1 diabetes , endocrinology , gastroenterology , obesity , zoology , biology
Aim 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. Methods Twenty‐five individuals with Type 2 diabetes diagnosed within past 6 years, not on insulin, BMI ≥ 27 kg/m 2 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. Results Ten men and 15 women (mean age 48, range 26–68 years) participated. Mean ( sd ) BMI was 34.2 kg/m 2 (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. Conclusions The feasibility of this approach to weight loss and diabetes remission in a predominantly black population in Barbados was demonstrated.