Diabetes remission may lower risk of kidney disease and heart disease

Research we're watching

People in a weight-loss trial who were able to reverse their diabetes diagnoses also lowered their risk of heart disease and kidney disease, according to new research.

Completed in 2016, the LOOK AHEAD trial followed more than 5,000 people for 12 years. It showed that a portion-controlled diet combined with exercise could help people with diabetes lose weight. Over all, however, their risk of heart disease did not decrease.

Published in the March 2024 issue of Diabetologia, the new study looked specifically at LOOK AHEAD participants (about 18% of the total) who showed some evidence of diabetes remission, defined as needing no diabetes medications and a close-to-normal blood sugar value at some point in time.

Those who achieved remission had a 40% lower rate of cardiovascular disease and a 33% lower rate of chronic kidney disease compared with those who didn't achieved remission. The authors say the benefits likely stemmed from improvement in the participants' weight, fitness, blood sugar, and LDL (bad) cholesterol.