Introduction.
Imagine if there was a way to reverse type 2 diabetes simply by understanding how your body stores fat. It might sound too good to be true, but research by Professor Roy Taylor has given us insight into a new approach to managing—and even reversing—type 2 diabetes. Let’s break it down into simple steps to help you take control of your health journey.
The Problem: Hidden Fat Causes Hidden Problems.
Many people think weight alone determines their risk for type 2 diabetes, but it’s more complicated than that. The real issue isn't just about how much fat you have; it's about where that fat is stored. When your body starts storing fat in places like the liver and pancreas, that’s when trouble begins. This is where Professor Taylor’s "Personal Fat Threshold" and "Twin Cycle" theories come into play.
The Guide: Personal Fat Threshold—Your Unique Fat Limit
Roy Taylor’s Personal Fat Threshold theory tells us that each person has a unique capacity for storing fat. Think of it as your body’s own limit—a point at which fat begins to spill over from “safe” areas (like under the skin) into areas where it shouldn’t be, such as the liver and pancreas.
This excess fat in the liver makes it resistant to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. Over time, the fat also reaches the pancreas, where it harms the cells that produce insulin, leading to type 2 diabetes.
What’s important here is that your personal fat threshold is not necessarily tied to your weight. Some people with lower body weight might still store fat in the wrong places, leading to diabetes, while others who weigh more might never experience the same issues.
The Problem Solver: The Twin Cycle Theory—Breaking the Cycle of Fat
Professor Taylor also explains The Twin Cycle Theory, which helps us understand how type 2 diabetes develops and how it can be reversed. It all starts with excess calories, especially from foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. This excess leads to fat building up in the liver, which then starts a vicious cycle:
Liver Cycle: The liver accumulates fat, becomes resistant to insulin, and begins to release too much sugar into the blood.
Pancreas Cycle: The excess fat spills over into the pancreas, harming the cells that produce insulin.
These two cycles keep feeding into each other, worsening insulin resistance and pushing blood sugar levels higher and higher.
The Plan: Reversing the Cycle
But here’s the good news: just as these cycles can lead to diabetes, they can also be reversed! By losing weight and specifically targeting the excess fat around the liver and pancreas, many people have been able to return their blood sugar levels to normal.
Calorie Restriction: Following a low-calorie diet helps to burn away the excess fat stored in the liver and pancreas.
Restoring Function: As the fat levels decrease, the liver begins to respond better to insulin, and the pancreas can produce insulin effectively again.
Many people who have followed this plan have experienced remission from type 2 diabetes, all by understanding their personal fat threshold and breaking the twin cycles.
Success Story: You Can Be the Hero
Imagine regaining control over your body and reversing type 2 diabetes simply by changing how you manage fat storage. The key is to determine your personal fat threshold—understand your own body's limits—and take steps to bring your fat levels below that threshold.
References:
Taylor, R. and Calvert, C. (2021) ‘The personal fat threshold hypothesis: Implications for the treatment of diabetes and obesity’, Diabetic Medicine, 38(3), e14455. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14455.
Lean, M.E.J., Leslie, W.S., Barnes, A.C., Brosnahan, N., Thom, G., McCombie, L., Peters, C., Zhyzhneuskaya, S., Al-Mrabeh, A., Hollingsworth, K.G., Rodrigues, A.M., Mathers, J.C., Ross, H.M., Brosnahan, N., McIlvenna, Y., Stefanetti, R., Trenell, M.I., Welsh, P. and Taylor, R. (2019) ‘Durability of a primary care–led weight-management intervention for remission of type 2 diabetes: 2-year results of the DiRECT open-label, cluster-randomised trial’, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 7(5), pp. 344-355. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30068-3.
Lean, M.E.J., Leslie, W.S., Barnes, A.C., Brosnahan, N., Thom, G., McCombie, L., Peters, C., Zhyzhneuskaya, S., Al-Mrabeh, A., Hollingsworth, K.G., Mathers, J.C., Ross, H.M., McIlvenna, Y., Welsh, P. and Taylor, R. (2023) ‘Five-year outcomes of a weight-management programme in type 2 diabetes: A 5-year follow-up of the DiRECT open-label, cluster-randomised trial’, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 11(5), pp. 328-339. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00041-5.
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