The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas and presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), suggest that lifestyle changes could offer an effective approach to managing early-onset Type 2 diabetes.
The research was conducted by scientists led by Professor Kaberi Dasgupta of McGill University in Canada and Professor Thomas Yates of the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.
The clinical trial involved 96 adults aged between 18 and 45 who had Type 2 diabetes and obesity but were not using insulin.
Participants were recruited at research centres in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Of the 96 participants, 50 were assigned to an intensive lifestyle programme, while 46 continued receiving standard medical care.
Those in the lifestyle group followed a diet providing between 800 and 900 calories daily, alongside supervised aerobic and resistance exercises twice a week and an additional independent exercise session.
After 12 weeks, participants moved to a diet designed to maintain their weight loss while continuing physical activity.
After 24 weeks, 27 of the 50 participants in the intensive programme had achieved remission, representing 54%.
In comparison, only two of the 46 participants receiving standard care achieved remission, equivalent to approximately 4%.
Researchers also recorded greater weight loss among participants following the intensive programme.
Their average body weight decreased by 8.4 kilogrammes over six months, compared with 1.2 kilogrammes among those receiving standard care.
The programme also focused on preserving muscle mass through resistance training while reducing body fat.
However, the intensive approach was associated with more side effects.
Forty-three participants in the intervention group reported at least one adverse event, compared with six in the standard-care group. Common problems included constipation, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. No severe adverse events were reported.
Researchers emphasised that remission does not necessarily mean diabetes has been permanently cured.
It refers to blood sugar levels falling below the diagnostic threshold without glucose-lowering medication for a specified period.
They said longer-term studies are needed to establish whether participants can maintain remission and weight loss over time.
The findings could offer new insights into treating early-onset Type 2 diabetes, which is associated with a higher risk of developing complications earlier in life.
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