Randomization and Interventions
Participants stopped metformin (if applicable) and fasted overnight prior to the baseline visit, at which they completed a 2 h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). At this visit, they received instruction on healthy lifestyle practices for managing T2DMThese 2 treatment protocols have been described in detail previously in ref. Following the 3-week OGTT, participants began maintenance therapy consisting of either (i) metformin or (ii) metformin + intermittent IIT. In both arms, metformin was initiated at 1000 mg/day for 2 weeks, followed by 2000 mg/day or maximal tolerated dose thereafter. In the intermittent IIT arm, a 2-week course of IIT was administered every 3-months with the same glucose targets as during induction, as previously described in detail in ref. 