Early weight loss, diabetes remission and long-term trajectory after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study

Aims/hypothesis: Weight loss can improve glycaemic management in individuals with type 2 diabetes, but its long-term effects on remission, cardiovascular risk factors and complications remain unclear. We investigated clinical outcomes following non-interventional ≥10% body weight loss in people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in a routine care setting. Methods: We retrospectively analysed two cohorts of people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. After exclusions, cohort 1 included 1934 individuals followed for up to 25 years; cohort 2 comprised 13,277 individuals followed for up to 10 years. Participants were categorised into two groups based on whether or not they lost at least 10% body weight. In a sensitivity analysis, a group of participants with intermediate weight loss (5% to <10%) was also considered. Outcomes included HbA1c, diabetes remission, cardiovascular parameters and chronic complications. Results: Participants (58% male) had a mean age of 62 years and a mean diab...