Traditional food may help reverse Nepal's diabetes rise

Early trials in Nepal report that calorie-controlled traditional diets based on lentils and rice led to diabetes remission in about 43–50% of participants, and a larger University of Glasgow–led study is now under way with philanthropic support.

Doctors and researchers report that returning to traditional lentil-and-rice meals has shown promise in reversing type 2 diabetes in Nepal. The concern follows rising diabetes rates as processed "western" foods have become more available and activity levels have fallen. Diabetes medication is often unaffordable in Nepal, and complications can be serious for many families. Early community-based trials have therefore tested calorie-controlled versions of local diets. Key findings: - A pilot hospital study of 70 patients reported about 43% entered diabetes remission after a calorie-controlled traditional diet. - An ongoing trial of 120 people in peri-urban communities has been reported as showing roughly half free from diabetes at four months, with average weight loss of 4–5 kg. - The dietary plan used local foods such as dal bhat (lentils and rice), with an initial 850-calorie daily phase for eight weeks followed by a higher-calorie maintenance phase, and included community support and simple measuring tools. - The expanded four-year study is led by the University of Glasgow with Dhulikhel Hospital; after UK funding cuts the Howard Foundation provided £1.78m to allow the project to continue and to create educational materials. Summary: These early results describe a culturally adapted, calorie-controlled return to traditional foods being tested as a community-level approach to reduce type 2 diabetes in Nepal. The research team intends to assess whether the intervention can also prevent diabetes in people at high risk. The study continues over multiple years with external philanthropic support and plans for wider community rollout as part of its evaluation.