Scottish scientists trial ‘porridge and lentil soup’ diet in bid to curb nation’s diabetes epidemic

A low-calorie ‘porridge and lentil soup’ diet will be trialled in Scotland in a bid to curb the nation’s growing diabetes epidemic.

Experts believe the simple, cheap regime based on traditional Scottish staples could be the key to losing weight and reversing the effects of type 2 diabetes.

NHS figures published last year showed more than 300,000 are living with the condition in Scotland – the highest number on record.

A total of 15,980 new patients were diagnosed in Scotland in 2018 – including 205 under the age of 30 – and around 88 per cent of the nation’s cases are type 2. 

Participants in the trial will eat a bowl of porridge for breakfast, followed by soup and bread for both lunch and dinner, with fruit for snacks. 

To give variety, the lentil soup can be made plain or with tomatoes. Researchers have also devised a spicy soup with curry powder and beans.

The 850-calorie daily diet plan includes five portions of fruit and vegetables. Those taking part should lose a stone a month.

Professor Mike Lean, chair of Human Nutrition at the University of Glasgow’s School of Mediremission cine, Dentistry and Nursing, has created the ‘No Doubts Diet’.

He said that type 2 diabetes, which is linked to inactivity and obesity, should be taken as seriously as a cancer diagnosis.

The academic and his team achieved successful results in recent trials of a similar low-calorie diet using shakes and soups, with diabetics going into by losing significant amounts of weight.

They want to try to replicate this with participants creating simple home-made dishes.

They will then have soup and bread for both lunch and dinner, with fruit for snacks in the evening

Professor Lean said: ‘People are being diagnosed in their forties and fifties and it will take years off your life and you will be living with a disability. 

Our research has already shown that we can put diabetes into remission with diet.

‘The new diet we want to trial is simple and based on Scottish recipes. If you get cancer you will go through chemotherapy, and going on a diet like this should be seen in the same way if you are diagnosed with diabetes.’ 

Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin in the pancreas doesn’t work properly, or the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin.

This causes a rise in glucose levels in the blood which, if untreated, leads to heart disease and strokes, kidney disease, liver failure, blindness and damage to nerve endings in the feet. 

But diabetes goes into remission when the blood glucose levels fall into the non-diabetic range.

Previous diet trials have resulted in participants losing two to three stone in weight.

The 850-calorie regime would have to be followed for several weeks or months, with hunger and headaches expected at first.

A healthy average woman needs 2,000 calories a day, while a man requires 2,500.  Once they have seen their diabetes go into remission, participants would adopt a maintenance plan and receive intensive support from professionals.

‘Total diet replacement’ programmes of powdered shakes and soups are recommended by NHS Health Scotland in its latest guidance on weight-management services for adults.

Emma Shields, senior clinical adviser at charity Diabetes UK, said: ‘Weight loss is key to putting type 2 diabetes into remission. 

‘That is why it’s so important to find an approach to losing weight – and keeping it off – that works for you.’