Formula diets for treatment of type 2 diabetes

It has been known for more than 30 years that a significant reduction of fasting glucose and insulin concentrations as well as an increase in insulin sensitivity can be achieved immediately after the beginning of a hypocaloric diet. This article describes the promising effects of low-calorie and formula diets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A review of the study results on the treatment of type 2 diabetes using low-calorie and formula diets is given. The influence on metabolic alterations, diabetes-relevant parameters and the quality of life of type 2 diabetes patients is discussed, Furthermore, the comparability of bariatric surgery and formula diets is examined. The rapid effects on metabolic parameters which occur before the occurrence of an essential weight loss are comparable to the results after bariatric surgery. The successful and long-term integration of calorie-reduced diets into everyday life is difficult because treatment of type 2 diabetes has primarily focused on pharmacological therapies; nevertheless, the rapidly achieved improvements in metabolic control by formula diets offer an as yet unexploited potential for patient motivation.