Can the NHS Soup and Shake Diet Really Reverse Diabetes? Here’s What You Need to Know
The Problem
Diabetes mellitus is a condition where blood glucose (sugar) levels rise higher than normal. Excess sugar is lost through urine, drawing water with it, so symptoms include tiredness, increased urination, and thirst. There are many different types of diabetes, varying in their causes and treatment. However, more than 90% of patients diagnosed with diabetes are type 2. The condition is caused by problems with insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.
Treating Type 2 Diabetes
Luckyly, much can be done to manage and treat diabetes these days, including insulin therapy. Type 1 diabetes always requires insulin treatment, injecting doses under the skin. Type 2 diabetes can be managed differently. There are many different oral and injectable medicines available to help increase the body’s production of, and sensitivity to, insulin. However, a reasonable first step is to trial lifestyle modifications, especially weight loss. Losing weight increases insulin sensitivity, and in some cases, patients can reduce their HbA1c levels back below the value of 48 used to diagnose diabetes, effectively reversing the diagnosis.
Shake It Off
The NHS soup and shake diet is an example of total diet replacement, where typical foodstuffs are replaced with easily consumable semiliquids, designed to include the correct balance of nutrients, but restrict energy (calories). This plan removes the element of choice for patients, making a diet easier to follow and increasing the chance that patients will stick with it. The NHS soup and shake diet involves following a calorie-restricted diet (800-900 kcal) of low-calorie, nutritionally complete, total diet replacement products – made up of soups, shakes, and bars – before reintroducing other foods, bridging progression onto a healthy maintenance diet, supported by coaches for 12 months.
Research and Results
Research on the effectiveness of the diet to manage diabetes initially began with promising results from randomized control trials. The diet was then rolled out to larger scale trials in clinical practice, implemented via the NHS. The results confirmed that total diet replacement plans can induce weight loss as well as a decrease in HbA1c. In some patients, this was enough to induce diabetes remission. Great news indeed.
Limitations and Considerations
However, this is only one piece in a more complicated jigsaw puzzle. Not everyone who follows the plan will be able to reverse their diabetes. For example, even though the soup and shake diet restricts patient food choice as well as calories, sticking to a liquid-only plan can still be difficult for some. Psychological issues with food, such as emotional eating, aren’t necessarily fully addressed by the programme, so – even for those who’ve followed the plan successfully – once the 12 months have finished, if the patient returns to their usual eating habits, they’ll regain weight and the diabetes could return.
Who Should Avoid the Diet
Extreme diet restrictions are unsuitable for some patients. For example, if using insulin, calorie restrictions may lead to hypoglycaemia, where blood sugar levels fall too low. Other unsuitable patient groups include pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and teenagers, and patients with eating disorders. Patients with chronic diseases – those which impair immunity or bone health, for instance – should consult medical advice before embarking on any diet.
Conclusion
While the results of the study are promising for some patients, more work needs to be done to ensure weight loss is maintained post-plan. The NHS soup and shake diet is a viable option for patients with type 2 diabetes looking to reverse their condition, but it’s essential to consider the limitations and potential drawbacks.
FAQs
Q: What is the NHS soup and shake diet?
A: The NHS soup and shake diet is a total diet replacement plan that replaces typical foodstuffs with easily consumable semiliquids, designed to include the correct balance of nutrients, but restrict energy (calories).
Q: How does the diet work?
A: The diet involves following a calorie-restricted diet (800-900 kcal) of low-calorie, nutritionally complete, total diet replacement products – made up of soups, shakes, and bars – before reintroducing other foods, bridging progression onto a healthy maintenance diet, supported by coaches for 12 months.
Q: Can the diet really reverse diabetes?
A: The diet has been shown to induce weight loss and a decrease in HbA1c in some patients, which can be enough to induce diabetes remission. However, this is not a guarantee, and more work needs to be done to ensure weight loss is maintained post-plan.
Q: Who should avoid the diet?
A: Patients with certain medical conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, eating disorders, and chronic diseases, should consult medical advice before embarking on the diet. Additionally, pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and teenagers should avoid the diet.
