Reversal of Type 2 Diabetes Using Nutrition and Lifestyle Interventions

Abstract Background The worldwide prevalence and burden of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) keeps growing at a frightening rate and uncontrolled diabetes has become one of the most common reasons for restricted fitness to work in the oil and gas industry. Based on the 2021 International Diabetes Federation's statistics, MENA Region has the highest regional prevalence of 16.2% and is expected to reach 31% by 2045 (IDF, 2021). Type 2 diabetes has long been classified as an irredeemable chronic metabolic disease based on the standards of care treatment approach. The best outcome expected has been the improvement of symptoms or slowing the predictable consequences of diabetes. Although traditional view has been that diabetes is irredeemable and unstoppable, the paradigm is changing. Evidence from numerous studies show that type 2 diabetes remission and reversal is possible through health education, low-carb Mediterranean diet and other lifestyle interventions. Aim The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the effectiveness of our company's diabetes program on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) for the remission or reversal of Type 2 Diabetes. Methods The study involved 106 employees with T2DM within the age range of 21 to 60 years and HbA1c value between 7.0% to 14.0%. The participants were assigned holistic diabetes expert doctors that provided tailored holistic nutrition, sustainable fitness, and counseling/behavioral modification/education to reverse T2DM. Lab values of FBS, HbA1c, and body weight of the patients were recorded at the start and the end of the study. The determine the efficacy of the program, we compared the results in the program to that of a control group with 73 individuals diagnosed with T2DM and treated with diabetes pharmaceuticals but not part of the company's diabetes program. Results After analysis (mean ± SD), a substantial reduction in FBS, HbA1c, and body weight was observed in the program participants in comparison to the control. Based on the results HbA1c decreased from 10.5 ± 1.3% to 5.7 ± 1.0% with a mean drop of 4.8±1.2%; FBS reduced from 195.1 ± 53.4 mg/dL to 93.2 ± 18.8 mg/dL with an average FBS reduction of 101.9 ± 45.3 mg/dL, and body weight dropped from 89.8 ± 11.2 kg to 74.6 ± 11.8 kg with a mean loss of 15.2 kg. Conclusion These results demonstrate that a holistic diabetes care program involving individualized holistic nutrition, sustainable exercise training, counseling, lifestyle behavioral modification, and education similar to our diabetes program, can help to improve and sustain a healthy blood sugar status and body weight in individuals with T2DM. In comparison to the aforementioned MENA region prevalence of 16.2% and the company's prevalence of 13.4% in 2019, the prevalence now stands at 3.2%.