Everyone has a "personal fat threshold," so it's also possible to develop diabetes if you are light in weight

At the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Stockholm, Sweden (September 19-23), it will be heard that everyone has a "personal fat threshold" that can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) if this threshold is exceeded, even if they are less
weight.

T2D is the most common form of diabetes, occurring when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin (a hormone that helps transfer sugar from food to cells for energy) or when the insulin produced does not work properly
.

A BMI of over 301 is a risk factor for T2D, and a previous landmark study at Newcastle University showed how and why an intensive weight loss program can alleviate T2D
in obese or overweight people.

But not all people with T2D are overweight
.

The ReTUNE study (type 2 diabetes reversal after normalization of energy intake in non-obese people) looked at whether weight loss could also reverse the condition
of people with a BMI in or only slightly above the "normal" range (BMI below 27 kg/m2).

This supports the idea that each of us has a "personal fat threshold" for the level of body fat we can cope with, and if we exceed this criterion, we will develop T2D, even if our weight does not seem significant
.

Twenty patients with T2D (with an average BMI of 24.

They followed a weight loss program in which they consumed 800 calories a day (from low-calorie soups, shakes, and non-starchy vegetables) for two weeks, followed by 4 to 6 weeks after which they kept their new weight stable
.

At the end of the study, their results were compared to those of a control group of 20 people without diabetes who matched their age, sex, and BMI
.

Fourteen of the 20 people with type 2 diabetes (70 percent) had remission, a similar proportion to the proportion of people with type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity in previous studies
.

The weight remained stable
between 6 and 12 months.

The average BMI dropped from 24.

Special MRI scans show a significant drop
in fat levels in the liver and pancreas.

Although the average liver fat content of the study participants was 4.

Fat in the pancreas dropped from an average of 5.

The researchers say their results clearly show that T2D is caused
by the same factors in people of normal weight and in people who are overweight or obese.

This is important because doctors tend to think that people with lower body weight have different causes of T2D, so they usually don't recommend losing weight before starting diabetes medications and eventually using insulin
.

Professor Roy Taylor of Newcastle University in the UK, who was the lead investigator of the trial, said: "But if they lose 10% of their body weight, there is a good chance that their type 2 diabetes will be alleviated
.
"

Professor Taylor said the findings should also help remove the stigma
that comes with T2D diagnosis.

"The findings also support the concept of an individual fat threshold, which means that any person with type 2 diabetes has a little
more fat in their body than they can afford on their own," he explains.
This is genetically
determined.
Each of us has a threshold that allows us to store fat safely, and this threshold has little to do with BMI
.

"If you have type 2 diabetes, the amount of fat in your body is just beyond your capacity, even if you look slim
.
"

"This excess fat can flow into your liver and pancreas, stopping normal function, leading to type 2 diabetes
.
" You only need to consume half a gram more fat in the pancreas to stop normal insulin production
.

"I'm often asked, 'Why do I have type 2 diabetes and all my friends are older than me and don't have diabetes?'" The current work answers this difficult question
.

"This should help remove some of the stigma
that comes with type 2 diabetes.
" Obviously, this condition is not 'caused' by any level of body mass index (BMI), but rather due to the storage of too much fat in the liver and pancreas, regardless of your body weight
.
”

The researchers recommend that anyone with T2D in any household, regardless of weight, should have their blood sugar
checked annually.
People with diabetes during pregnancy or non-white Europeans are also advised to have regular check-ups
.

Professor Roy Taylor, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
.
T) 07946 429123 E) roy.
taylor@newcastle.
ac.
uk

Other contact: Tony Kirby
of EASD Media Center.
T) +44 7834 385827 E) tony@tonykirby.
com