Aim A very‐low‐calorie diet (VLCD) can reverse the underlying defects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in obese subjects. We determined the efficacy, safety, and durability of VLCD in Thai patients with DM and obesity. Methods Twenty Thai patients with DM and obesity were enrolled. After a 2‐week trial, VLCD (600 kcal/day) was continued for 8 weeks, followed by a 4‐week transition period. Data on diabetes remission (fasting plasma glucose level <126 mg/dl and HbA 1c <6.5% without the use of glucose‐lowering medications), glycemic control, metabolic parameters, and quality of life (QOL) were collected along with indices of insulin resistance (IR) and beta cell function. Glycemic control 12 months after discontinuation of VLCD was also examined. Results Among 19 patients (age 48 ± 2 years, BMI 27.7 kg/m 2 ) who completed the study, rapid improvement in glycemic control was observed in the first 2 weeks of VLCD. At both 8 and 12 weeks, diabetes remission was achieved in 79%. Significant weight loss was accompanied by a significant reduction in IR and an increase in beta cell function, starting at 4 weeks of VLCD. QOL also significantly increased. At 12 months after VLCD, however, DM remission was achieved in approximately 30%. Conclusion Very‐low‐calorie diet was effective and safe in inducing short‐term diabetes remission in Thai subjects by ameliorating beta cell function and IR. Optimal long‐term glycemic control was potentially durable as one‐third of subjects remained without diabetes medication 12 months after VLCD.

The present study was to investigate in vitro alpha-glucosidase, pancreatic alpha-amylase and protein glycation inhibitory activities of nine edible plants. The results indicated that total phenolics, flavonoids, and condensed tannins of nine edible plants showed marked variations, ranging from 12.2 to 80.1 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract, 2.34 to 13.65 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract, and 97.2 to 460.1 mg catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively. Our findings showed that grape seed, Cat's whiskers and Sweetleaf extract were the most effective pancreatic alpha-amylase, intestinal maltase, and sucrase inhibitor with IC(50) values of 0.29 +/- 0.01 mg/ml, 0.97 +/- 0.10 mg/ml and 0.86 +/- 0.01 mg/ml, respectively. All extracts (1 mg/ml) markedly inhibited the glycation of bovine serum albumin in fructose-mediated non-enzyme glycation by 50-30% at week 1. It was found that Pennywort maintained the high percentage inhibition among those of the extracts during the 4 weeks of experiment. These edible plants may be used for controlling blood glucose level and prevention of the development of type 2 diabetes.