New research: reversing Type 2 diabetes
Associate Professor Dr Caryn Zinn is leading a three-year project looking into non-pharmaceutical ways to reverse Type 2 Diabetes, and says it is entirely possible.
Diabetes affects around 300,000 adults in Aotearoa, with those numbers expected to increase by 70-90% over the next 20 years. The narrative that often follows Type 2 diabetes is: can it be prevented, and can it be reversed? Associate Professor and registered dietician Dr Caryn Zinn, who is leading a three-year project looking into non-pharmaceutical ways to reverse Type 2 Diabetes, says it's entirely possible.
There is ongoing debate about treating and reversing the disease, particularly in New Zealand, which is notable given the country’s high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes. Other countries including the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, according to Caryn, have acknowledged carbohydrate reduction as a viable method of treatment, and have even added it to their nutrition guidelines.
So, does carb reduction work? Caryn says it absolutely does, but this can be easier said than done, as the complex realm of carbohydrate addiction can be challenging. Committing to the lifestyle change and finding the right balance between diet and lifestyle is crucial and ultimately can drastically reduce or eliminate the need for medication.
Whole-food, carb reduction is the vital element, combined with only a slight lift in protein and fat intake. Another benefit is the enormous cost savings to the country’s health system that would come from this approach (and resulting co-morbidities).
If you’ve been on social media lately you would no doubt have heard about Ozempic; a weekly injection that lowers blood sugar by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. Although it’s intended purpose is to treat diabetes, it is now a prevalent weight-loss solution for many, especially in Hollywood.
Caryn cautions individuals that although this medication may work for some, it is still a pharmaceutical approach of treatment that requires you to continuously take the medication (sometimes for life) in order to see the advantages. And like so many new pharmaceutical medicines, we know there are immediate side effects, but do not know what the side effects might be in years to come, which is a concern.
Ultimately, carb reduction is a harmless, safe method that doesn’t have negative side effects, in fact has plenty of other health benefits. Caryn’s research suggests that adopting this lifestyle change can reverse Type 2 diabetes entirely in many individuals so, given the growing number of cases in New Zealand, it should be a top health priority.