The use of very low calorie diets in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

It was believed that Type 2 diabetes (DM2) was a progressive condition, with gradual decrease in beta-cell function. Data from the United Kingdom Prospective Study indicate that approximately only 50% beta-cell function remains at the time of diagnosis which decreases to 30% within 6 years.1 This reduction in betacell function is associated with treatment intensification includingadditional oral hypoglycaemic agents and ultimately insulin.1 Due to the decrease in beta-cell function, the first phase insulin response (insulin secretion within the first 10 minutes after eating) is believed to be permanently lost in people with Type 2 diabetes.2,3 Lim et al. (2011) challenged this view when the first phase insulin secretion normalised following a very low calorie diet (VLCD) (less than (