The late Dr Michael Mosley’s revolutionary diet could be a lifeline for those battling Type 2 diabetes, as it has been found to outperform medication in managing the disease, according to a recent study.
The renowned doctor, who sadly passed away while holidaying in Greece earlier this month, was the mastermind behind the popular 5:2 intermittent fasting plan.
This innovative diet is centred around the principle of intermittent fasting, where one eats without restrictions for five days and then drastically reduces their intake to a mere 500-600 calories on two non-consecutive days.
The idea is that after a day of limited caloric intake, the body shifts from using energy from food to burning its fat reserves.
With no stringent rules about what foods to avoid or complex calculations to determine permissible foods, the 5:2 diet quickly amassed millions of followers worldwide and offers numerous health benefits.
In a recent trial involving overweight and diabetic adults, scientists found that the diet not only reduces blood sugar levels but also promotes weight loss – even outperforming standard diabetes medications in effectiveness, Gloucestershire Live reports.
The Beijing Hospital conducted a compelling study involving over 400 participants. The patients were divided into groups where some were prescribed diabetic medications such as metformin or empagliflozin, while others adhered to the fasting-inspired 5:2 diet, reports the Mirror.
After a period of 16 weeks, the group on the 5:2 diet showed remarkable improvements in blood glucose control and achieved an average weight loss of around 9.7kg (21lbs 6oz), nearly twice as much as those treated with medications.
Despite these promising outcomes, certain medical professionals call for prudence when considering the trial’s results definitive. Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow voiced his skepticism when he discussed the findings with MailOnline.
“Weight excess is the key driver for diabetes and thus weight loss improves glucose levels meaningfully,” he told the publication.
“The issue is whether such changes and the 5:2 diets are sustainable, especially as the trial was rather short term…with greater than expected weight losses in all three arms.”