Want to reverse Type 2 diabetes? Here's the secret ingredient

In Arizona, 1 in 3 people are living with diabetes or prediabetes, both of which occur when the body can’t use insulin properly and result in high blood sugar. The issue is even more challenging right now as people with this health condition are more likely to have severe symptoms and complications from COVID-19.

Reducing the burden of diabetes on individuals and our health care system has never been more important.

That’s why, after a yearlong pilot program with impressive results, as a physician and the chief medical officer of Arizona’s fastest-growing health plan, I am particularly excited about a program being offered through Virta Health.

Virta's program is much more than a diet

Virta provides a first-of-its-kind, patient centered diabetes management program designed to help people reverse Type 2 diabetes without surgery.

Mesa resident Chris Stewart is a good example. Stewart spent years trying a variety of strategies to manage his Type 2 diabetes. After a comprehensive medical intake, his Virta health coach created a customized plan with his lifestyle and food preferences in mind.

For instance, Stewart has chickens in his backyard, and so his coach suggested ways to add eggs to his meals to increase his protein intake. He also worked with Stewart to help him manage his fast-food habit. Instead of prohibiting him from eating out, the Virta coach provided simple tips to optimize Stewart’s food choices, such as getting a meal in a bowl and skipping the burger bun.

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Virta’s program is much more than a “diet.” It also incorporates daily support from health coaches, personalized guidance and tracking of biometric markers among each user’s care team.

As a result, Stewart reversed his diabetes and got off all his medications. This not only meant saving more than $500 per year on medical costs – it also helped him shed more than 110 pounds without having to count calories.

Patients need to know why they're doing this

Now a year and a half into the program, the most valuable thing to Stewart is that he can now regularly spend time racing BMX with his young daughter, something he couldn’t find the energy to do before.

He isn’t the only one sticking with the program. After two years, 74% of patients are still participating, which means it’s more sustainable than other diet and lifestyle programs.

This success is due in part to the connection-centered intake process that helps participants get to the heart of “why” they want to improve their health. In finding their “why,” participants discover a deep source of inspiration to draw from to stay on track.

For people completing two years of Virta’s treatment, clinical trial results show an average daily insulin dosage was reduced by 81%, 67% of all prescriptions were eliminated and patients experienced 10% weight loss, exceeding FDA benchmarks by 100%.

I understand that there is too much hype in health care. I can reassure you that I was skeptical at the start, as well. Yet this model has truly changed the game by putting diabetes reversal – without medications or surgery – within reach of the average person. This is not a fringe approach.

Diabetics, others need resources to improve health

Low carbohydrate strategies, like the ones employed by Virta, are now fully endorsed by The American Diabetes Association as an effective first-line management strategy.

The Virta Health program is just one example of Banner | Aetna’s commitment to support our members with diabetes and other chronic conditions. The progressive decline of health associated with diabetes can be reversed – but it will take unique partnerships between health insurers, doctors and the people they care for to accomplish it.

I strongly believe that is a shared responsibility of all health insurers to support members as they make progress along this journey, and to give them the resources needed to do so. Health insurance companies not only have a vested interest in improving the health of the people they serve, but they are also in a unique position to do so.

I encourage all local health care leaders to look at the evidence and then spread the word that diabetes is reversible with the right interventions.

Robert Groves, MD, is executive vice president and chief medical Officer of Banner | Aetna. Reach him at grovesr@banneraetna.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Want to reverse diabetes? Here's the secret ingredient