Research shows there is an increased prevalence of gum disease among those patients with diabetes. And yet with only 600 calories of non-starchy vegetables per day a patient may rid themselves of a life of chronic health issues. According to Newcastle University in a groundbreaking British study, patients who consumed only 600 calories a day for two months were able to reverse their Type 2 diabetes. The research, involving only 11 patients, suggests a very low-calorie diet can remove fat that clogs the pancreas, allowing normal insulin secretion to be restored. Seven of the 11 patients remained free of diabetes three months after the study.
Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient insulin to regulate fat metabolism and sugars in the blood, or when the body is unable to react to the insulin.[1] Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. When sugar cannot enter cells, abnormally high levels of sugar build up in the blood. This is called hyperglycemia.[2]
The study that was announced at an American Diabetes Association conference is being published in the journal Diabetologia. Over eight weeks, researchers monitored the fat content in the liver and the insulin production from the pancreas, comparing the results to a control group of non-diabetics. After only one week, the diabetics’ pre-breakfast blood sugar levels were normal. According to NU researchers, MRI scans of the patients’ pancreases revealed that fat levels had dropped, which allowed the organ to produce more insulin.
While the trial sample is very small, the potential discovery is huge. Generally, diabetic patients require additional oral maintenance. So if you reverse the diabetes, you can reverse your oral health issues that result from it. It’s food for thought.
ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD
Hanna Orland, DMD
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
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[1] American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2010;33 Suppl 1:S62-S69.
[2] Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
