Roy Taylor: How to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes by Losing Weight

By Type2 Advice - Anna

Type 2 diabetes is a common and serious condition that affects millions of people around the world. It occurs when the body cannot use insulin properly to control blood sugar levels. This can lead to various complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and blindness.

However, type 2 diabetes is not a life sentence. In fact, it can be reversed by losing weight and avoiding weight regain. This is the main message of Roy Taylor, a British scientist and professor at Newcastle University, who has been studying the causes and treatments of type 2 diabetes for over 40 years.

In this article, we will explain how type 2 diabetes can be reversed by weight loss, based on Taylor’s research and findings. We will also provide some practical tips and advice for people with type 2 diabetes who want to try this approach.

What causes type 2 diabetes- Taylor’s views?

According to Taylor, type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by excess fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas. These are two vital organs that regulate blood sugar levels by producing and responding to insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose (sugar) from food as energy or store it for later use. When there is too much fat in the liver and pancreas, they become resistant to insulin and stop working properly. This leads to high blood sugar levels and diabetes.

Taylor explains: “Type 2 diabetes is a potentially reversible metabolic state precipitated by the single cause of chronic excess intraorgan fat.“¹

How can weight loss reverse type 2 diabetes?

Taylor and his colleagues have shown that weight loss can reverse type 2 diabetes by removing excess fat from the liver and pancreas. This can restore their normal function and sensitivity to insulin, and thus normalise blood sugar levels.

They have demonstrated this in several studies involving people with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-calorie diet for a period of time. The most notable one is the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT), which involved 298 participants from primary care settings in the UK.

The DiRECT study showed that 46% of people with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-calorie diet for 12 months achieved remission, meaning their blood sugar levels returned to normal without medication. This percentage increased to 70% among those who lost more than 15 kg of weight.²

Taylor says: “Importantly, the primary care-based Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) showed that 46% of people with type 2 diabetes could achieve remission at 12 months, and 36% at 24 months, mediated by weight loss.“³

What are the benefits of reversing type 2 diabetes?

Reversing type 2 diabetes by weight loss can have many benefits for people’s health and well-being. Some of these benefits are:

  • Reducing the risk of developing complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, eye damage, and foot ulcers.
  • Improving the quality of life by reducing symptoms such as fatigue, thirst, hunger, frequent urination, and infections.
  • Saving money on medication, tests, and health care costs.
  • Boosting self-esteem and confidence by achieving a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Taylor says: “This major change in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease permits a reassessment of advice for people with type 2 diabetes.“³

How to reverse type 2 diabetes by weight loss?

If you have type 2 diabetes and want to try reversing it by weight loss, here are some steps you can take:

  • Consult your doctor before starting any weight loss program. They can advise you on your target weight, calorie intake, medication adjustment, and monitoring plan.
  • Follow a low-calorie diet that provides about 800 calories per day for up to 12 weeks. You can use meal replacement products such as shakes or soups, or choose foods that are low in fat and sugar but high in protein and fibre.
  • Increase your physical activity gradually. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. You can also do some strength training to build muscle mass and prevent muscle loss.
  • Keep track of your weight, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels regularly. Use a scale, a glucometer, a blood pressure monitor, and a home cholesterol test kit to measure your progress.
  • Seek support from your family, friends, health-care team, or online communities. They can motivate you,

References and Further Reading

(1) Dr. Roy Taylor on the Cause of Type 2 Diabetes and … - Paleo Diabetic. https://bing.com/search?q=Roy+Taylor+type+2+diabetes. (2) Nutritional basis of type 2 diabetes remission - PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34233884/. (3) Understanding the mechanisms of reversal of type 2 diabetes. https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/landia/PIIS2213-8587%2819%2930076-2.pdf. (4) Dr. Roy Taylor on the Cause of Type 2 Diabetes and … - Paleo Diabetic. https://paleodiabetic.com/2014/01/25/dr-roy-taylor-on-the-cause-of-type-2-diabetes-and-what-to-do-about-it/. (5) Dr. Roy Taylor | Diabetic Mediterranean Diet. https://diabeticmediterraneandiet.com/tag/dr-roy-taylor/. (6) Life Without Diabetes: The definitive guide to understanding and …. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Without-Diabetes-definitive-understanding/dp/1780724098.

Books by Roy Taylor

Some books that Taylor has written for the general reader are:

  • Life Without Diabetes: The definitive guide to understanding and reversing your Type 2 diabetes²³. This book explains how type 2 diabetes can be reversed by weight loss, based on Taylor’s research and findings. It also provides some practical tips and advice for people with type 2 diabetes who want to try this approach.
  • Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes. This book is a shorter and simpler version of Life Without Diabetes, aimed at people who want a quick and easy read. It covers the same topics but in a more concise and accessible way.
  • The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet: How to Beat Diabetes Fast (and Stay Off Medication) by Michael Mosley with Roy Taylor. This book is co-authored by Taylor and Michael Mosley, a journalist and doctor who followed Taylor’s weight loss program and reversed his own type 2 diabetes. It offers a low-calorie diet plan that can help people lose weight and reverse type 2 diabetes in eight weeks.

(1) Life Without Diabetes: The definitive guide to understanding and …. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Without-Diabetes-definitive-understanding/dp/1780724098. (2) Life Without Diabetes: The Definitive Guide to Understanding and …. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Without-Diabetes-Roy-Taylor/dp/0062938126. (3) How to cure type 2 diabetes – without medication - The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/15/how-to-cure-type-2-diabetes-without-medication.