IamA Hi. I'm Newcastle University Professor Roy Taylor, the man behind the research about how Type 2 diabetes can be reversed. AMA!

What would be the quick and dirty of how to achieve this? Hospital stay for a week, NPO, saline the whole time?

The important aspect is always sustainability, so quick and dirty is not necessarily a good plan. By using the low-calorie liquid diet for around 8 weeks, followed by a steady switch to eating around 2/3s of previous amounts, constitutes the quickest route to success.

I only asked because I realized an extreme appetite change after my intestinal resection (diverticulosis) about three years ago.

Wasn't as hungry, wasn't wanting anywhere NEAR as much food. Could barely tolerate any sugars in my meal and my sensitivity to tasting "sweet" flavours that most Americanized diets wash out with soooo many sugars was increased a large amount.

I'm using my experience in the hospital as a key example of a potentially decent way to kick-start it, as I lost a lot of weight at that point (didn't have diabetes, but I was a very likely candidate for it at that point.)

I realize the key point of sustaining a well-functioning machine is to take the appropriate preventative maintenance, which is to follow up with keeping a low-cal diet, but I was wondering if by starting NPO/saline for a week if you might expedite the process.

(If your answer's still the same, just throw that at me and I'll shut up :-P)

That’s a fascinating point. The reason why the low-calorie diet is so successful is that hunger does not become a problem after the first 36 hours or so. So, whilst I would not recommend not eating anything at all, your observation does touch on why the low-calorie approach is so often successful.

Was the response to the insulin the same though? Is were they as sensitive to this insulin as someone who was never diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes?

The overall response was similar to people without diabetes, but with equivalent weight, however the insulin response of the liver was completely normal.

Fellow NCL staff here. Favourite bar in Newcastle and Favourite part of campus?

Congratulations on all your research.

I think I have to say my favourite part of campus is that surrounding the Magnetic Resonance Centre on the Campus for Ageing and Vitality. We have some magnificent blossom trees in the spring and magnificent buildings. And of course, the people contribute to making this part very special.

Was Wilford Brimley the best spokesperson EVER for the Diabeetus?

I would say historically I would quote William Banting (not the discoverer of insulin) who wrote a famous book called ‘A letter on corpulence addressed to the general public’. It is still worth reading. Currently, there are many good spokespeople, such as Tom Hanks.

I'm wondering, does it matter how the calories are restricted or how the weight is lost? It's been noted that losing about 1 gram of fat in the pancreas is a critical feature of diabetes reversal according to the Newcastle findings. Specifically, would a low carb, high fat (LCHF) diet work just as effectively as, say, a whole-food, mostly plant diet? Does the high-fat diet potentially make it more difficult to lose fat in the organs?

The only essential is that calories are restricted. It does not matter what level of fat is consumed as the body is very able to convert food into what it needs. However, there is a very important human point. Some people find it easier to follow one particular diet, and this has to be recognised as being practically important.

What is your favourite bar in Jesmond?

St Mary’s well may provide a low-calorie drink at low cost.

What is the longest term follow-up reversal you have seen?

11.5 years.

Awesome!

A follow-up ... Do most who retain their reversal keep most of the weight off? Or put another way, do those who keep the weight off remain free of diabetes?

Yes, when people return to normal sugar control after losing weight then, provided the weight stays level, the sugar levels remain normal.

Is general weight loss sufficient to turn diabetes around, or does it have to be a specific protocol to affect the pancreas, liver or other "hot spot" ?

There’s no special protocol. The only essential is that total body fat is substantially decreased by any means to suit an individual.

Do you think a moderately calorie restricted ketogenic diet might be able to replicate the results?

I've followed a ketogenic diet since my T2 diabetes diagnosis in September 2015, and have lost 23kg in that time (BMI changed from 33.4 to 25.7). The onset of open diabetes was no more than five years prior, since in 2010 my FBG was just over the border of pre-diabetic (103 mg/dl). In the first eight weeks of the diet I lost 10kg, which is slightly slower than the average weight loss of your subjects on the Newcastle VLCD.

Thank you for your amazing research; it is one of the first pieces of good news I found when researching diabetes on the day of my diagnosis.

Firstly – well done! Fantastic achievement! The answer is resoundingly ‘yes’. What we’re finding is it doesn’t matter how you achieve the weight loss – it’s losing the substantial amount – usually around 15% of body weight – that makes the difference. The really important matter is keeping the weight off long term. Well done indeed!

What is the main factor to insulin sensativity in type 2? :o do you think the main factor is obiesty or genes? :D

It is very clear that the background insulin sensitivity is determined by genes. However, obesity and physical activity can modify this substantially.

I am borderline for diabetes 2 and GP has asked me to loose weight. I am 68yr female with other medical complications - hypothyroidism, hypertension, and for last 8 months Polymyalgic Rheumatica. Treatment with 10mg Prednisolone a day and losing weight are difficult bedfellows. Have you any advice?

It is indeed difficult to lose weight whilst on steroid treatment, because this has a specific effect in stimulating appetite. However, with determination and motivation to tolerate hunger, there is no reason why weight loss cannot be achieved.

On the video, you mentioned motivation- is there something that works better? Doing it with my husband? Friend? is there anything my GP may be able to offer?

Motivation is something that has to come from within. So, it is really important that a person is very clear that they really want to achieve the goal of diabetes reversal. However, we have observed that the influence of a spouse or partner is extremely important in providing support.

Do you think they face a higher risk of recurrence, since they had Type 2 before?

Yes. Such people have clearly demonstrated that their constitution puts them at risk of diabetes and this risk still remains. However, if they decrease their weight below their personal fat threshold (a level at which blood sugar is normal for them) then they will remain free of Type 2 diabetes during their active life.

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Official policy has to be dependent on the results of large clinical trials. The Department of Health is interested in the ongoing research. This work, supported by Diabetes UK, involves teaching primary care nurses and dieticians how to deliver reversal of diabetes and maintain this long-term. We hope that the first-year results will be available in autumn 2017. Careful research takes a long time, but is so important to get it right.

how or where can i get info on how to do this?

You can find out more on our website http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal.htm http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/news/2015/10/type2diabetes/ http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/news/2015/12/pancreasstudy/

What do you think of Edward Diamano's research and piloting of the bionic pancreas?

This is excellent research on Type 1 diabetes. It is possible that an artificial pancreas could be of use. However, I believe that in the longer term the biological solution of making cells produce insulin within the body is more likely to become widely available.

How did you get into this type of research? I'm currently going to school for a BioChem degree and think it would be interesting to pursue this.

That’s great news! First, you need to get your basic degree. Then, you need to study for a further degree, usually a PhD. The important thing is that you choose a supervisor who is enthusiastic and inspiring. Finally, choose an important problem to research!

What color is your underwear?

Blue.