Integration of a fasting-mimicking diet programme in primary care for type 2 diabetes reduces the need for medication and improves glycaemic control: a 12-month randomised controlled trial

Aims/hypothesis The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on metabolic control of periodic use of a 5-day fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) programme as an adjunct to usual care in people with type 2 diabetes under regular primary care surveillance. Methods In this randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial, people with type 2 diabetes using metformin as the only glucose-lowering drug and/or diet for glycaemic control were randomised to receive 5-day cycles of an FMD monthly as an adjunct to regular care by their general practitioner or to receive regular care only. The primary outcomes were changes in glucose-lowering medication (as reflected by the medication effect score) and HbA 1c levels after 12 months. Moreover, changes in use of glucose-lowering medication and/or HbA 1c levels in individual participants were combined to yield a clinically relevant outcome measure (‘glycaemic management’), which was categorised as improved, stable or deteriorated after 1 year of follow-up. Several secondary outcome measures were also examined, including changes in body weight. Results One hundred individuals with type 2 diabetes, age 18–75 years, BMI ≥27 kg/m 2 , were randomised to the FMD group ( n =51) or the control group ( n =49). Eight FMD participants and ten control participants were lost to follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses, using linear mixed models, revealed adjusted estimated treatment effects for the medication effect score (−0.3; 95% CI −0.4, −0.2; p <0.001), HbA 1c (−3.2 mmol/mol; 95% CI −6.2, −0.2 and −0.3%; 95% CI −0.6, −0.0; p =0.04) and body weight (−3.6 kg; 95% CI −5.2, −2.1; p <0.001) at 12 months. Glycaemic management improved in 53% of participants using FMD vs 8% of control participants, remained stable in 23% vs 33%, and deteriorated in 23% vs 59% ( p <0.001). Conclusions/interpretation Integration of a monthly FMD programme in regular primary care for people with type 2 diabetes who use metformin as the only glucose-lowering drug and/or diet for glycaemic control reduces the need for glucose-lowering medication, improves HbA 1c despite the reduction in medication use, and appears to be safe in routine clinical practice. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03811587 Funding The project was co-funded by Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, the Dutch Diabetes Foundation and L-Nutra.