BMC Med. 2025 May 7;23(1):270. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04072-4.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the effects of hypoglycemic agents with weight loss effect plus a high protein diet and moderate exercise on weight loss and diabetes remission in adults with obesity and newly diagnosed prediabetes/type 2 diabetes (T2D).
METHODS: Participants with obesity and newly diagnosed prediabetes or T2D (n = 61) were randomly allocated to standard treatment group (conventional medication and lifestyle guidance for 12 months) and intensive treatment group (in addition to conventional medication, a high protein diet and moderate exercise were given for 12 months).
RESULTS: By month 12, 60 (98.4%) participants completed the 12-month follow-up visit. In the intensive treatment group, 73.33% patients in the prediabetes subgroup returned to normoglycemia and the diabetes remission rate was 86.67% in the diabetes subgroup, which were much higher than the remission rate of prediabetes subgroup (7.69%) and diabetes subgroup (16.67%) in the standard treatment group (P < 0.001). The mean weight change was — 19.29 kg (95% CI, — 22.95 to — 15.63) in the intensive treatment group and — 1.52 kg (95% CI, — 5.12 to 2.07) in the standard treatment group from baseline after intervention. The weight change between the two groups was significantly different (net difference, — 17.77 kg; 95% CI, — 22.90 to — 12.64; P < 0.001). Percent of body fat, visceral fat area, and hepatic controlled attenuation parameter value reduced significantly in the intensive treatment group compared to the standard treatment group (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Hypoglycemic agents with weight loss effect plus a high protein diet and moderate exercise could lead to a considerable proportion of patients with diabetes achieving diabetes remission.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2100044305.
PMID:40336033 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04072-4
