Exercise Drives 50% Remission in Under-40 Type 2 Diabetes After 12 Weeks
Updated
Updated · Medscape · Oct 30
Exercise Drives 50% Remission in Under-40 Type 2 Diabetes After 12 Weeks
3 articles · Updated · Medscape · Oct 30
Summary
Fifty percent of patients under 40 with type 2 diabetes entered remission after a 12-week exercise program added to a low-calorie diet, according to findings discussed at the 2026 EASD meeting.
The intervention also produced about 7 kg of weight loss while preserving muscle mass and improving cardiovascular function—benefits not typically seen with low-calorie diets alone.
Researchers said the result is notable because early-onset type 2 diabetes can mean decades of drug treatment, lower quality of life and higher long-term complication risks.
The findings add to emerging evidence that structured diet-and-exercise programs can outperform usual care in younger adults, a group that tends to be less physically active and more sedentary.