Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must meet all of the following criteria.

1. Type 2 diabetic men and non-pregnant or non-lactating women between the ages of 21 to 75
2. BMI ≥ 25 and ≤ 50
3. Subjects must be willing to comply with all study-related procedures
4. Participant with screening HbA1C ≥ 6.0

Exclusion Criteria:

If participants meet one of the following criteria they will be excluded.

1. Use of insulin or other pharmaceutical agent for diabetic control other than thiazolidinedione (TZD), Sulfonylurea's, or Metformin or a combination of medications.
2. BMI ≤ 24.9 or ≥ 50.1
3. Participation in another formal weight loss program within last 6 months
4. Participation in Diabetes Support and Education Program or other formal diabetes education program within last 6 months
5. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 180 or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg). Participants on medication treating hypertension for at least three months are allowable.
6. Known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
7. History of congestive heart failure
8. History of a non-skin malignancy within the previous 5 years

9. Any major active rheumatologic, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, dermatologic disease or inflammatory condition

   Detailed Disease and Lab Value Exclusions:

   • Active rheumatologic, dermatologic disease, or autoimmune/inflammatory condition will be defined as any patient who currently, or has a past medical history of chronic (> 2 weeks) immune modulating/suppressing medications.
   • Active pulmonary disease will be defined as any patient who has a history of, or currently requires, daily oral corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors, an oxygen requirement, or ventilation support for chronic disease management.
   • Active hepatic disease: defined as any patient who currently, or has a history of requiring immune modulating/suppressing medications, ammonia lowering medications, or hepatic disease related diet modifications.
   • Active renal disease: defined as any patient who currently, or has a history requiring potassium phosphate lowering medications, protein restriction diet, or hemo/peritoneal dialysis.

   Lab value exclusions are limited to all routine electrolyte values outside the normal range, except glucose. (Sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, BUN, creatinine.)

10. History of testing HIV positive
11. History of alcohol or drug abuse
12. Weight-loss inducing medications or dietary supplements within 3 months prior to enrollment.
13. Weight loss > 5 kg during the last 6 months
14. Participation in any weight loss study or investigational drug study within 6 weeks prior to the screening
15. Serious or unstable medical or psychological conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the subject's safety or successful participation in the study.
16. Participants with screening triglycerides above 500 mg
17. Anyone that is physically active for ≥ 30 minutes per day as assessed in clinical interview at the screening visit
18. Uncontrolled Dyslipidemia. Participants stable on medication treating dyslipidemia for at least 3 months or more is allowable.