Type 2 diabetes is reversible under certain conditions, depending on the person’s lifestyle. Medications alone will not reverse it. If a person does not make healthy lifestyle changes, type 2 diabetes will progress and eventually more medications will be needed to control it.
However, if someone engages in healthy lifestyle practices, such as eating a low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise, their diabetes may decrease and go into remission. People should also note that a diagnosis of prediabetes does not necessarily mean that developing type 2 diabetes is inevitable. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people can also reverse prediabetes by making lifestyle changes.
Read on to learn more about the possibility of people reversing type 2 diabetes, as well as tips on diet, health and prevention.
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Is it reversible?
Type 2 diabetes is very common. The International Diabetes Federation reports that 463 million adults had the condition in 2019, causing 4.2 million deaths the same year.
That said, people with type 2 diabetes can do many things to control and manage the condition. A 2020 study indicates that lifestyle practices can prevent type 2 diabetes, but also have the potential to reverse it. This is also known as remission. In fact, the evidence supporting the value of such practices is so substantial that the study authors refer to them as “lifestyle medicine.”
Although the study cites evidence that a low-calorie diet can help reverse type 2 diabetes, this implies that there is a superior strategy. According to the authors, the link between type 2 diabetes and obesity does not involve just excess body weight. Instead, excess abdominal fat specifically plays a very important role.
With this in mind, the authors say that a strategy to reverse diabetes that includes exercise is a better approach. They build on other findings that indicate that a combination of diet and exercise reduces abdominal fat. The authors also indicate that exercise reduces blood glucose levels and improves the sensitivity of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Healthy lifestyle practices could bend the curve of the type 2 diabetes epidemic, the authors conclude. While advocating for people who follow a low-calorie diet and exercise, they add that such practices should include people who get enough sleep, abstain from smoking, and control their alcohol intake.
These lifestyle practices can also reverse prediabetes. In this condition, a person has slightly elevated blood sugar and is at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The CDC indicates that achieving a healthy weight and getting regular exercise may offer this benefit.
What is ‘remission’?
Remission is the preferred term for the reversal of diabetes. This is because a person’s type 2 diabetes can always come back. When someone is in remission, their A1C has dropped to a level of a person who does not have type 2 diabetes, which is less than 6.5 percent.
A1C reflects a person’s average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. Doctors use the A1C test to diagnose and monitor the progression of the condition.
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In addition to a low A1C, a person in remission no longer needs to take any diabetes medication.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2?
The CDC indicates that there are several differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
Features | Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
Physiology | The body stops producing insulin. | The body produces insulin, but does not use it well, so it cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels. |
Percentage of people with diabetes | 5-10 percent | 90-95 percent |
Onset of symptoms | Symptoms develop rapidly. | Symptoms develop over the course of many years. |
When is it diagnosed | Physicians usually diagnose it in children, adolescents and young adults. | Physicians usually diagnose it in adults, but it is increasingly diagnosed in children, adolescents and young adults. |
Treatment | Treatment includes daily insulin. | Treatment includes diet, medication, insulin or a combination of these. |
Prevention | There is no known form of prevention. | Prevention is possible with healthy lifestyle changes. |
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Diet and Health Tips
CDC provides diet and self-care tips for people with diabetes. Diet recommendations include:
- choosing nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products
- eating foods high in fiber, such as whole-grain breads and cereals
- choosing foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, calories, sugar and salt
- drinking water instead of sodas or juice
- fill a plate with food as follows:
- half fruits and vegetables
- one-quarter whole grains
- one-fourth lean protein, such as beans or skinless chicken
Self-care is also important for living well with diabetes. Here are some tips:
- take medications as prescribed
- see your doctor at least twice a year
- check and record your blood sugar if a doctor advises you to do so
- check your blood pressure if your doctor recommends it
- check your feet for blisters, redness, swelling, and cuts.
- keep teeth and gums healthy with regular brushing and flossing
- refrain from smoking
- participate in ways to reduce stress, such as deep breathing.
- seek support from family, friends or a mental health counselor.
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Prevention Tips
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases offers people the following tips to prevent type 2 diabetes:
- Lose weight, if you are overweight. Losing 5 percent to 7 percent of weight can delay or prevent a person from developing type 2 diabetes.
- Exercise regularly. This means a minimum of 30 minutes 5 days a week. People should start slowly and gradually increase their physical activity until the goal is achieved. People should ask their health care provider for specific exercise recommendations.
- Eat nutritious foods most of the time. Following the nutritional advice found in the “Diet and Health Tips” section above also helps prevent type 2 diabetes.