London – Canadian scientists announced that they have conducted trials that prove that Type 2 diabetes can be reversed.

Trials were held at Canada’s McMaster University in Ontario where patients were put on a regimen of exercise, a lower daily calorie intake, and medication or insulin to control their blood sugar levels.

After four months of starting the trials, 40 percent of participants stopped taking medication because their bodies have once again started producing the appropriate levels of insulin.

Researchers said that their method succeeded because it gave the insulin-producing pancreas a “break”.

Lead scientist, Dr. Natalia McInnes said: “The research might shift the paradigm of treating diabetes from simply controlling glucose to an approach where we induce remission and then monitor patients for any signs of relapse.”

The approach “likely gives the pancreas a rest and decreases fat stores in the body, which in turn improves insulin production and effectiveness,” she explained.

Eighty-three patients took part in the trial. They were divided almost evenly into two groups, who were subject to intense treatment for eight and 16 weeks.

After three months of trials, 11 out of 27 patients from the first group went into remission as opposed to six out of 28 from the second.