Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)Behavioral InterventionHealthcare Delivery & Education
RESEARCH SUMMARY

Elderly patient with long-standing diabetes achieved sustained insulin independence through lifestyle intervention

Low confidence
high bias
Last updated May 29, 2026

Key takeaway:

A 78-year-old man with 40 years of type 2 diabetes and 31 years of insulin therapy discontinued insulin and maintained glycemic control for 77 months after an intensive lifestyle intervention.

Study at a glance

What was studied

Intensive lifestyle intervention for insulin discontinuation in an elderly patient with long-standing type 2 diabetes.

Study type

non-randomized clinical trial (non-RCT or NRCT)

duration

Long-Term (> 12 mo)

Intervention

Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission

Outcomes

Diabetes medication use, HbA1c, Body weight, BMI, Triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, Fasting insulin levels

Funding

Non-industry sponsored

Main effects

Insulin discontinuation: Insulin withdrawn in first month and remained discontinued at 77-month follow-up

HbA1c stable: HbA1c decreased from 7.0% to 6.6% at 10 months and maintained at 6.6% at 77 months

Weight and metabolic markers improved: Weight, BMI, triglycerides, HDL, and hs-CRP all improved

Evidence Summary

InterventionOutcomeMeasured ChangeStudy Effect
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Weight & Anthropometrics
BMI
(Weight & Anthropometrics)
Decrease
Strong
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Weight & Anthropometrics
Body weight
(Weight & Anthropometrics)
Decrease
Strong
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Metabolic Health
C-reactive protein
(Metabolic Health)
Decrease
Mixed
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Adherence & Engagement
Diabetes medication use
(Adherence & Engagement)
Decrease
Strong
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Metabolic Health
Fasting insulin levels
(Metabolic Health)
Uncertain
Mixed
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Glycemic Control
HbA1c
(Glycemic Control)
Decrease
Mixed
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Metabolic Health
HDL cholesterol
(Metabolic Health)
Increase
Mixed
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission
(Behavioral & Lifestyle)
Metabolic Health
Triglycerides
(Metabolic Health)
Decrease
Mixed

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evidence suggest

Evidence Suggest

  • This is a single-patient case report describing outcomes in one 78-year-old man.
  • The intervention included multiple simultaneous components, making it impossible to isolate which elements contributed to outcomes.
  • The patient continued oral diabetes medication (gliclazide) throughout follow-up.
  • Preserved C-peptide and fasting insulin at 77 months indicate residual beta-cell function.
who this applies

Who this applies to

One 78-year-old man with 40-year history of type 2 diabetes

keep in mind

Keep in Mind

This is a case report of one patient, not a controlled trial.

between the lines

Between the Lines

  • Single-patient case report with no control or comparison group.
  • Multiple intervention components introduced simultaneously.
  • Continuation of oral diabetes medication (gliclazide) throughout follow-up period.
  • No way to determine if outcomes were due to the intervention or natural disease variability.

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Journal Reference

Sustained Insulin Independence Following Lifestyle Intervention in a 78-Year-Old Patient With Long-Standing Type 2 Diabetes: A Six-Year Follow-Up Case Report. Cureus. 2026;[publication details not available]. PMCID:PMC13181349

Connected Evidence

Discover how this study fits into the broader diabetes evidence landscape.

This study contributes to evidence on Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission and BMI, Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes remission and Body weight.

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