Type 2 diabetes is generally thought to be chronic and progressive, marked by an inevitable decline in beta cell function and increase in plasma glucose levels. Current pharmaceutical treatments are fundamentally unable to alter the course of the disease. Bariatric surgery has been shown to rapidly normalize glucose levels, even prior to weight loss. This study tested whether severe caloric restriction — similar to that seen alongside bariatric surgery — could lead to similar glycemic benefits. The study found that a very low-calorie diet rapidly improves liver insulin sensitivity and gradually improves pancreatic function in the process reversing Type 2 diabetes.