Prediabetes can improve without weight loss when fat distribution and metabolic hormones shift in healthier ways.
Many people believe that losing weight is the primary way to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Our new study questions that assumption.
For years, doctors have given the same advice to people diagnosed with prediabetes, a condition that affects up to one in three adults depending on age. Patients are typically encouraged to eat a healthy diet and lose weight in order to prevent diabetes.
This strategy has not worked for everyone. Despite medical recommendations remaining largely unchanged for more than 20 years, diabetes rates continue to rise worldwide. Many people with prediabetes struggle to meet weight loss targets, which can leave them frustrated while their risk of diabetes remains high.
Our latest research, points to an alternative path. The findings show that prediabetes can enter remission, with blood sugar levels returning to normal, even in the absence of weight loss.
About one in four people in lifestyle intervention programs bring their blood sugar back to normal without losing any weight. Remarkably, this weight-stable remission protects against future diabetes just as effectively as remission achieved through weight loss.
This represents a significant shift in how doctors might treat overweight or obese patients at high risk for diabetes. But how is it possible to reduce blood glucose levels without losing weight, or even while gaining weight?
