What Is Needed To Cure Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common kind of diabetes mellitus, and in many ways, its much more complicated than Type 1 diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes insulin, but the body doesnt respond to insulin like it should. This is called insulin resistance. But, people with Type 2 diabetes are not all the same, and Type 2 diabetes can have many different causes. Genetics play a role. Other factors can contribute, too, such as:
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Having overweight or obesity
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Having high levels of stress
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Not getting enough good quality sleep
There are a lot of medications that can treat high blood glucose in T2D, but none of them are cures.
Right now, the closest thing to a cure is a sustained lifestyle change that includes exercise, weight loss, and a healthier diet. And heres the exciting thing: For some people, this can slow or even reverse the progression of Type 2 diabetes. Even if it doesnt reverse T2D completely, it can help to reduce the need for medication, and can significantly improve health complications of diabetes, such as kidney and eye problems.
The largest clinical trial so far on this subject showed that lifestyle changes can stop the progression of diabetes and even bring blood sugar levels to normal. Other research that supports this data includes this study, which showed that lowering body mass index and reducing fat around the waist can bring glucose levels back to normal.
Here are some helpful and free tips to try at home:
Curing gestational diabetes
Diet And Persistence Can Reverse Diabetes
This means we can now see type 2 diabetes as a simple condition where the individual has accumulated more fat than they can cope with, continues the author, stressing the hopeful implications of this finding.
Importantly, this means that through diet and persistence, patients are able to lose the fat and potentially reverse their diabetes. The sooner this is done after diagnosis, the more likely it is that remission can be achieved.
For the first time, conclude Prof. Taylor and team in their paper, we are able to report the underlying physiologic changes during a full cycle of disease reversal and re-emergence.
In the U.K., the National Health Service will roll out a program that will test the weight loss therapy in thousands of people living with type 2 diabetes.
Is Type 2 Diabetes Curable At Early Stage
Pre-diabetes is a condition of when you have high blood sugar , but it is not high enough to be categorized into diabetes. Having it doesnt mean you will definitely develop diabetes. But youre at 10-20 times greater risk than people without pre-diabetes.
So pre-diabetes means youre so close to type-2 diabetes, but the disease is still preventable. With some lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and eating well, type-2 diabetes can be prevented .
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, can it be cured? Early stage of type-2 diabetes may still be curable, too though this chance is relatively smaller than pre-diabetes.
An interesting study in 2011, funded by Diabetes UK, showed that it might be still curable for patients with newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes! The study asked patients to follow 600 calorie a day diet for 2 months.
That study found:
The result is quite promising. But the study is a very small trial more studies are required! Researchers suggest that its all about the energy balance in the body. Eating more than the body needs may play a key role in increasing the risk of type 2, especially for people who are more susceptible to the disease.
Also Check: Type 2 Diabetes Meter Readings
Why Reversing Diabetes Depends On Sustained Loss Of Weight
So heres the rub: Weight loss may be easy initially but whats hard is keeping it off. Weight loss maintenance is vital, and you need to have appropriate strategies in place, says McCombie.
Thats the key. Otherwise, youre at risk for slipping back into your old habits. If that happens, your numbers can go right back into the diabetes range, says Martha McKittrick, RD, CDE, based in New York City. When people are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they become really strict, and start exercising and controlling their diet. They may even see their blood sugar numbers come down to normal levels. They lose weight, and are happy and relieved. But after a couple of months, the motivation goes away most people return to their old habits, and diabetes comes right back, she says.
Theres also something called the weight set point, in which losing weight gets increasingly challenging as you drop pounds due to a loss of metabolism.
McKittrick agrees that many people arent aware of just how important losing weight is when you have type 2 diabetes. I think that if they really understand that if you shrink your fat cells, you will be able to use the insulin more effectively, therefore you can produce less insulin, so in a way you are saving your pancreas from overworking and eventually not being able to make enough insulin they may be more willing to make permanent changes, she says.
If Youre In Diabetes Remission
Because your blood sugar levels may go back into the diabetes range even if you have been told youre in remission, you should keep going to your regular check-ups. If youre worried about anything or have any questions, talk to a member of your healthcare team.
We’ve got more information about what you’re entitled to at your annual diabetes checks.
Will you share your story of remission to help inspire others? Wed love to hear from you, whether youre in remission already or thats your goal. All you have to do is fill out this online story form and well be in touch.
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She Lost 100 Pounds And Reversed Her Type 2 Diabetes Its Difficult But Possible
Reversing type 2 diabetes or at least putting it into remission for years is possible, according to George King, research director and chief scientific officer at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Note, however, that reversal does not mean cure. The underlying condition is still there, and symptoms will come roaring back if the careful steps taken to manage them aren’t continued.
Google the phrase “reverse diabetes,” and you get millions of results along with endless books, articles, and products that all promise something that may sound too good to be true.
But there is one seeming bit of health hype that is indeed true for some people, with some limits.
Reversing type 2 diabetes or at least putting it into remission for years is possible, according to George King, research director and chief scientific officer at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Note, however, that reversal does not mean cure. The underlying condition is still there, and symptoms will come roaring back if the careful steps taken to manage them aren’t continued. And eventually, even very careful patients may again need to resume diabetes medications. But any time spent in remission, doctors say, can have long-term health benefits.
Even without surgery, it had long been known that at least 10 percent of people who go on a very strict diet, lose weight, and increase their activity can get off all medications for type 2 diabetes and stay off them for 10 to 20 years, King said.
Reductions In Diabetes Medications
Diabetes medications all have the same goalâto reduce elevated blood sugar. The common classes include:
- Insulin
- Sulfonylureas
- GLP-1 receptor agonists
- Metformin
When your blood sugar is no longer chronically elevated, these blood-sugar-lowering medications are no longer necessary. An ongoing study has shown that sustained nutritional ketosis can lead to the permanent removal of these medications.¹ⰠMedications that rapidly reduce blood sugar need to be removed first, such as insulin and sulfonylureas, sometimes in as little as 2 days to 2 weeks. Other medications like SGLT-2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and metformin can be removed as long as you maintain normal blood sugar.
If you are on diabetes or blood pressure medications, Virta highly recommends that you get medical supervision before making any dietary changes.
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Keep Monitoring Your Blood Glucose Level
The ADA recommends that people who are diagnosed with prediabetes get their glucose levels checked annually. You may even ask your health care provider whether you need a home glucose monitor to check the state of your prediabetes. Thats because the possibility of recurrence always exists. Aging, gaining weight or falling back on habits, such as smoking, overeating or not exercising can cause blood glucose levels to rise again.
Weight Loss Surgery For Diabetes Remission
Diets arent the only way people with type 2 diabetes have gone into remission some have had bariatric or weight-loss surgery. One study found that almost a third of people who had surgery were in remission after 15 years.
Weight loss surgery for my diabetes has given me a second chance.
Jason is in remission of type 2 diabetes read Jason’s story
Kieran had bariatric surgery in August 2017. He is now in remission read Kierans story
Surgery is no quick fix, but it should be an option for those who want it. At the moment, it can be really difficult to get a referral. So were working to try and make bariatric surgery more accessible for those who fit the criteria.
Get all the facts on weight loss surgery.
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Diet And Lifestyle Changes
While obesity and overweight are caused by a complex set of factors on their own, taking steps to shed pounds if youre not at an ideal weight may help your type 2 diabetes management.
A lot of times patients think its a futile effort, like whatever they do is not going to matter, says Patricia Happel, DO, associate professor and associate medical director at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York. What I try to do is empower them and educate them about what they can do to manage it, and hopefully, reverse it.
Dr. Happel says that if your A1C is below 8, you may have a chance of returning to a normal blood sugar level, provided you make and maintain healthier eating, exercise, and lifestyle habits. As A1C increases, its harder to return to a normal blood sugar level without medical intervention.
Jordana Turkel, RD, CDCES, of Park Avenue Endocrinology and Nutrition in New York City, has also seen people go into remission from type 2 diabetes if they act early enough. Typically its done with a very low-carb diet, a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise a week, with a combination of cardiovascular and strength training, as well as follow-up with both myself and the doctor, she says. Underscoring that remission doesnt mean the diabetes wont come back, she adds, Even if their numbers are in check, frequent follow-up is important.
The Sooner You Get Started The Better
In research3 on men and women with type 2 diabetes who came to the Pritikin Longevity Center, those who were most successful were those who arrived when they were first diagnosed with the disease, not those who waited till theyd had the disease for many years.
The longer one continues treating type 2 diabetes with drugs while mostly ignoring what drives the disease process excess body fat, excess calories, inactivity, and a lousy diet the more rapidly the disease progresses. Beta cells are lost forever. It becomes more and more difficult to control blood glucose without drugs, explains Gomer.
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How Diabetes Progresses
Diabetes is considered a progressive condition, which is why the first step you take to manage your diabetes will not stay effective long-term.
Scientists understand the basics of type 2 well, including how the body makes and uses insulin. When beta cells in the pancreas cant produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar from raising too high, the result is diabetes.
First, your body stops making enough insulin or using insulin it does make properly. When your body doesnt use insulin properly, its called insulin resistance.
Your beta cells increase the amount of insulin they produce to make up for the insulin resistance. Over time, the body works even harder to make more insulin and eventually it cant keep up.
Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 still have functioning beta cells. They usually have no idea there is a problem until a doctor tests their blood sugar levels. Because symptoms can be minimal and go unnoticed, many people can have type 2 diabetes for a long time before its diagnosed.
Sometimes, type 2 diabetes can be managed with an eating plan and physical activity. Exercise and weight loss have been shown to improve how your body uses insulin. In addition to these lifestyle changes, medications can be prescribed. Many times, the first medication prescribed is metformin, which decreases amount of glucose produced by the liver.
The progression of type 2 diabetes is why it may feel like a race you cant win.
Chain reaction
Make Changes That Count
“The term ‘reversal’ is used when people can go off medication but still must engage in a lifestyle program in order to stay off,” says Ann Albright, PhD, RD. She’s the director of diabetes translation at the CDC.
Shedding extra pounds and keeping them off can help you better control your blood sugar.
For some people, reaching a healthier weight will mean taking fewer medications, or in rarer cases, no longer needing those medications at all.
Losing 5% to 10% of your body weight and building up to 150 minutes of exercise a week may help you to slow or stop the progress of type 2 diabetes.
“If you sit most of the day, 5 or 10 minutes is going to be great,” Albright says. “Walk to your mailbox. Do something that gets you moving, knowing that you’re looking to move towards 30 minutes most days of the week.”
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How Long Does It Take To Reverse Diabetes
Theres no set timeframe for when people with Type 2 diabetes may start to see their hard work pay off. In general, diabetes experts say with medication and lifestyle changes, diabetes patients could notice a difference in three to six months. It may take one month to stabilize blood sugar , and then a couple of months or more for lifestyle changes to take effect.
With enough work and time, you can do it,says Stephanie Redmond, Pharm.D., CDE, BC-ADM, co-founder of diabetesdoctor.com.The longer youve had diabetes and the higher your sugars have been for a sustained time, the harder this might be. Redmond adds that despite their best efforts, it may be impossible for some to become diabetes-free. Your pancreas just cant produce the insulin it needs. Theres no point in stressing or beating yourself up. Work with your healthcare provider on the best medication plan for you.
An A1C test measures average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months. A hemoglobin A1C below 5.7% is normal, between 5.7 and 6.4% is a sign of prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes. People managing their Type 2 diabetes should get an A1C test at least two times a year and more often if they change medications or have other health conditions.
What Is The Best Way To Reverse Diabetes
The first step in diabetes remission for those with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes is blood glucose control. Thats done through medication if needed, eating healthy food, and losing extra weight to help the body respond more effectively to insulin. These actions can help reverse insulin resistance and prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes.
The Diabetes Prevention Program , an ongoing research study started in 1996 and funded by the National Institutes of Health, shows that people at a high risk of diabetes reduced their chance of developing the disease by losing 5%-7% of their starting weight. For someone who weighs 200 pounds, thats 10 to 14 pounds. People who participated in the study lost weight by changing their diet and exercising more.
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Is It Possible To Reverse Diabetes
Its possible to reverse both prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 and gestational diabetes are not reversible people with these conditions can only treat and manage them.
Most people with diabetes have insulin resistance, meaning their bodies dont use insulin well and glucose then stays in their blood and doesnt reach cells, eventually causing health problems. Other people with diabetes either dont make enough insulin or make none at all. There are a few common forms of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes is when the body doesnt make insulin. The immune system attacks and kills cells in the pancreas that create insulin. Healthcare providers usually diagnose this form of diabetes in young people, but it can develop at any age. Type 1 diabetes patients need to take insulin every day.
- Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesnt make or use insulin well. Its the most common form of diabetes. Although it can happen at any age, Type 2 diabetes most often develops in middle-aged and older adults.
- Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women. It usually goes away after the baby is born but does raise the mothers risk of having Type 2 diabetes later on. Diabetes during pregnancy is also sometimes Type 2 diabetes.
Healthcare providers also diagnose people with prediabetes. This is when blood glucose levels are higher than usual but not high enough to be diabetes. Prediabetes raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and has many of the same causes.