Very low calorie diets (VLCDs)

This section provides information about VLCDs, and my own experiences with them.

VLCDs aim to send type 2 diabetes into remission. Remission, for these purposes, is defined as maintaining fasting blood glucose of 7mmo/l or lower, without any medication.

Key info

I highly recommend getting Life Without Diabetes: The definitive guide to understanding and reversing your Type 2 diabetes to really understand the theory behind these diets.

You can also read my short overview of the theory, and my FAQs that I've collected as I've worked through these diets.

Personal experience

I've attempted a VLCD twice:

• In 2021 I followed the Newcastle diet, based on Life Without Diabetes: The definitive guide to understanding and reversing your Type 2 diabetes by Professor Roy Taylor.
• In 2024, I'm doing the NHS Type 2 Path to Remission Programme.

You can read more about my experiences in the relevant sections.