Meeting Banner
Abstract #0740

Reversal of Type 2 Diabetes is Associated with Decrease in Pancreas & Liver Fat

Kieren G. Hollingsworth1, Ee Lin Lim1, Benjamin S. Aribisala1, Mei Jun Chen1, John C. Mathers2, Roy Taylor1

1Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom; 2Institute of Human Nutrition, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom


Type 2 diabetes is regarded as a chronic progressive condition, but is clearly reversible following bariatric surgery. We hypothesised that the reversal was due to calorie restriction rather than the effect of surgery on gut hormones, as is widely supposed. Eleven subjects with type 2 diabetes followed a very low calorie diet for 8 weeks. MR measurements demonstrated that a 75% fall in liver fat was accompanied by an decrease in hepatic insulin resistance and a 20% fall in pancreas fat was accompanied by an increase in peak insulin secretion rate to normal levels. Type 2 diabetes is reversible.