How to beat type 2 diabetes. Reversing Type 2 Diabetes: A Comprehensive Approach
How can you reverse type 2 diabetes? Explore the key strategies, including low-calorie diets, exercise, bariatric surgery, and fasting. Discover the latest research and insights on managing and potentially reversing this chronic condition.
Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
While there is no outright cure for type 2 diabetes, studies have shown that it is possible for some individuals to reverse the condition through a combination of dietary changes, weight loss, and other interventions. Reversing type 2 diabetes means achieving normal blood sugar levels without the need for medication, though the disease remains an ongoing concern with the potential for symptoms to return.
The Power of Weight Loss
The key to reversing type 2 diabetes appears to be significant weight loss. Studies in England have found that following a very low-calorie diet of 625-850 calories per day for 2-5 months, followed by a less restrictive diet to help maintain the weight loss, can help nearly half of participants achieve remission and maintain normal blood glucose levels for at least 6 months to a year.
Those who were most successful in reversing their diabetes typically lost 30 pounds or more and had been diagnosed with the condition for a shorter period of time. This suggests that the earlier intervention occurs, the better the chances of reversing the disease.
The Role of Exercise
While weight loss is the primary driver of reversing type 2 diabetes, increased physical activity can also play a significant role. A study found that combining a modest, lower-calorie diet with a regimen of at least 10,000 steps per day and 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week, along with specific insulin and medication management, led to more than half of participants achieving near-normal blood sugar levels without medication, with some maintaining those levels long-term.
Bariatric Surgery as a Solution
Bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve procedures, can be an effective option for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are obese. These surgeries help facilitate significant weight loss by altering the stomach and digestive system, and research suggests that up to three-quarters of people who undergo these procedures see their diabetes reversed.
Bariatric surgery is generally recommended for individuals with a BMI of at least 35 who have a weight-related health condition like diabetes. It tends to be most effective for those who have had the disease for 5 years or less and do not rely on insulin.
The Potential of Fasting
While not a mainstream treatment, a small study has found that therapeutic fasting, or going without food and caloric beverages for a set period, can potentially help reverse type 2 diabetes. Three participants in the study who followed a diet program of three 24-hour fasts per week saw their diabetes reversed.
However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of fasting on type 2 diabetes and its long-term feasibility as a treatment approach.
Exploring the Latest Insights
The research on reversing type 2 diabetes suggests that the condition is not necessarily irreversible, as was previously believed. By focusing on weight loss through dietary changes, exercise, and in some cases, bariatric surgery, it may be possible for some individuals to achieve remission and control their blood sugar without the need for medication.
However, it’s important to note that type 2 diabetes remains an ongoing condition, and the potential for symptoms to return is ever-present. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regular monitoring are crucial for those who have successfully reversed the disease.
Takeaways
The key to reversing type 2 diabetes appears to be significant weight loss, which can be achieved through a variety of means, including low-calorie diets, exercise, and bariatric surgery. While not a guaranteed cure, these interventions have shown promising results in helping some individuals achieve remission and maintain normal blood sugar levels without medication.
It’s important to work closely with your healthcare team to determine the best course of action for your individual circumstances and to develop a comprehensive plan for managing your diabetes, whether through reversal or long-term management.
Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
Written by Alison Sherwood
Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on April 25, 2023
- Low-Calorie Diet
- What Happens
- Exercise
- Bariatric Surgery
- Fasting
- Is There a Diabetes Cure?
- What Doesn’t Work
- More
Although there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it’s possible for some people to reverse it. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication.
This doesn’t mean you’re completely cured. Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease. Even if you’re in remission, which means you aren’t taking medication and your blood sugar levels stay in a healthy range, there’s always a chance that symptoms will return. But it’s possible for some people to go years without trouble controlling their glucose and the health concerns that come with diabetes.
So how can you reverse diabetes? The key seems to be weight loss.
Not only can shedding pounds help you manage your diabetes, sometimes losing enough weight could help you live diabetes-free — especially if you’ve only had the disease for a few years and haven’t needed insulin.
Several studies in England have looked at the effects of a very low-calorie diet on overweight people with diabetes. Two had people follow a mostly liquid diet of 625-850 calories a day for 2-5 months, followed by a less restricted diet designed to help them keep off the weight they lost. Both studies found that nearly half the people who took part reversed their diabetes and kept their blood glucose near the normal range for at least 6 months to a year.
This type of diet is extreme. It means working with a professional and being very controlled with how many calories you eat. But the chance that it could send you into remission may give you strong motivation to stick to it.
Most of the people who reversed their type 2 diabetes lost 30 pounds or more. They also hadn’t had diabetes as long as those who weren’t as successful.
So it’s important to get started on a weight loss plan as soon as possible after you’re diagnosed.
When you have type 2 diabetes, cells that help your body control your blood sugar stop working right. Doctors used to think they were shut down for good, but research shows that certain cells may come back. People who lost weight had lower levels of fat in their liver and pancreas, and for some of them, that helped the beta cells in their pancreas that release insulin and control blood sugar start working again.
The odds of rescuing those cells are best early on. That suggests it may be better for doctors to help people lose a lot of weight after a diagnosis, rather than make small lifestyle changes and manage symptoms with medication.
More physical activity is a way to improve diabetes, but it may be tough to lose enough weight to go into remission with workouts alone. When combined with changes to your eating, though, exercise helps. A modest, lower-calorie diet plus a big step up in burning calories could put you on the path to remission.
A study that had people aim for 10,000 steps a day and at least 2 1/2 hours of moderate exercise a week — along with cutting 500-750 calories a day and following a specific insulin and medication routine — saw more than half of them reach near-normal blood sugar without medication. Some were able to keep those levels long-term, too.
The bottom line: It’s the weight loss that really matters. Exercise can help you get there, but expect to change your diet as well.
This type of surgery helps you lose weight by changing your stomach and digestive system to limit how much you can eat. Aside from helping you lose weight, it may help reverse diabetes in other ways, although scientists don’t yet know exactly why. One theory is that it affects the hormones in your gut to help your body control blood glucose.
Researchers estimate that upwards of three-quarters of people see their diabetes reversed after bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (also called sleeve gastrectomy) surgery have better long-term results than gastric banding.
Bariatric surgery is generally an option when your BMI is at least 35 if you have a weight-related health problem such as diabetes. It works best for people who’ve had the disease for 5 years or less and don’t use insulin.
If you’re obese and recently diagnosed, it’s something to talk about with your doctor. Because it’s surgery, there are serious risks. But most people who have it done end up reversing their diabetes.
Fasting can be a practical way to lose weight because it’s fairly straightforward, but it’s not a mainstream treatment for type 2 diabetes.
A very small study found therapeutic fasting — going without food and drink with calories for a set amount of time — can help reverse type 2 diabetes. Three people with diabetes followed a diet program of three 24-hour fasts each week for several months. They would eat only dinner on days they fasted, and lunch and dinner on days they didn’t fast, focusing on low-carbohydrate meals.
Two of the people in the study were able to stop taking all diabetes medication, and the third stopped three of their four medications.
Within 1-3 weeks, all three of them could stop taking insulin. They lost between 10% and 18% of their body weight, or 20-23 pounds.
Another study showed that eating very few calories (500-600) 2 days a week and a normal diet the other days helped people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower their blood sugar levels just as much as limiting calories to 1,200-1,500 every day.
Though research continues, several studies show promise of intermittent fasting and several health benefits. Studies of intermittent fasting in humans with chronic disease have resulted in better control of their disease. However, these studies are done only over a period of months. It’s unclear if the benefits would remain for years if the diet is continued throughout life.
If you want to try fasting, you should work with your doctor so you get the right information and support to do it safely.
Is there a natural therapy that can cure diabetes?
No. Natural therapies such as deep abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress.
And emotional stress affects your blood sugar levels. So learning to relax is important in managing your diabetes.
Supplements don’t cure diabetes, either. Some natural supplements may interact dangerously with your diabetes medication. Others have been shown to help improve your diabetes, but always check with your doctor before taking any supplement.
Be skeptical about claims of a diabetes cure. A genuine cure will have been tested repeatedly in clinical trials with clear success.
Are stem cells a possible cure for diabetes?
They hold promise, but stem cell transplants are not yet a treatment for diabetes.
Stem cells are cells that can develop into other types of cells. Scientists have had some success with stem cells in type 1 diabetes.
Is islet cell transplantation a cure for diabetes?
A successful islet cell transplant can improve the quality of life for a person with diabetes. It’s an evolving technology that’s still being researched.
Islet cells sense blood sugar levels and make insulin. The cells come from a donor.
Once transplanted successfully, the donor cells begin to make and release insulin in response to blood sugar levels. This procedure can provide more flexibility with meal planning and help protect against serious long-term diabetes complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve and eye damage.
The person receiving the transplant must take medicine for the rest of their life to prevent their body from rejecting the donor’s cells.
Is pancreas transplantation a cure for diabetes?
Getting a transplanted pancreas is a possibility for some people with type 1 diabetes. It’s usually done in those who also have end-stage kidney (renal) disease.
A pancreatic transplant would help restore blood sugar control. Like anyone else who gets a transplant, the patient would need to take medicine for the rest of their life to help their body accept their new pancreas.
When it comes to reversing diabetes, there’s no magic pill. If you see a product that claims to cure diabetes or replace your prescribed diabetes medication, beware. The FDA cautions that many illegally marketed things are unproven and possibly dangerous, including:
- Dietary supplements
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Alternative medicines
- Homeopathic products
- Prescription drugs
They found some products that claimed to be “all natural” had prescription drugs that weren’t listed as ingredients. Those could change the way other medications you’re taking work or cause you to take too much of a drug without realizing it.
Top Picks
Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
Written by Alison Sherwood
Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on April 25, 2023
- Low-Calorie Diet
- What Happens
- Exercise
- Bariatric Surgery
- Fasting
- Is There a Diabetes Cure?
- What Doesn’t Work
- More
Although there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it’s possible for some people to reverse it.
Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication.
This doesn’t mean you’re completely cured. Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease. Even if you’re in remission, which means you aren’t taking medication and your blood sugar levels stay in a healthy range, there’s always a chance that symptoms will return. But it’s possible for some people to go years without trouble controlling their glucose and the health concerns that come with diabetes.
So how can you reverse diabetes? The key seems to be weight loss. Not only can shedding pounds help you manage your diabetes, sometimes losing enough weight could help you live diabetes-free — especially if you’ve only had the disease for a few years and haven’t needed insulin.
Several studies in England have looked at the effects of a very low-calorie diet on overweight people with diabetes. Two had people follow a mostly liquid diet of 625-850 calories a day for 2-5 months, followed by a less restricted diet designed to help them keep off the weight they lost.
Both studies found that nearly half the people who took part reversed their diabetes and kept their blood glucose near the normal range for at least 6 months to a year.
This type of diet is extreme. It means working with a professional and being very controlled with how many calories you eat. But the chance that it could send you into remission may give you strong motivation to stick to it.
Most of the people who reversed their type 2 diabetes lost 30 pounds or more. They also hadn’t had diabetes as long as those who weren’t as successful. So it’s important to get started on a weight loss plan as soon as possible after you’re diagnosed.
When you have type 2 diabetes, cells that help your body control your blood sugar stop working right. Doctors used to think they were shut down for good, but research shows that certain cells may come back. People who lost weight had lower levels of fat in their liver and pancreas, and for some of them, that helped the beta cells in their pancreas that release insulin and control blood sugar start working again.
The odds of rescuing those cells are best early on. That suggests it may be better for doctors to help people lose a lot of weight after a diagnosis, rather than make small lifestyle changes and manage symptoms with medication.
More physical activity is a way to improve diabetes, but it may be tough to lose enough weight to go into remission with workouts alone. When combined with changes to your eating, though, exercise helps. A modest, lower-calorie diet plus a big step up in burning calories could put you on the path to remission.
A study that had people aim for 10,000 steps a day and at least 2 1/2 hours of moderate exercise a week — along with cutting 500-750 calories a day and following a specific insulin and medication routine — saw more than half of them reach near-normal blood sugar without medication. Some were able to keep those levels long-term, too.
The bottom line: It’s the weight loss that really matters. Exercise can help you get there, but expect to change your diet as well.
This type of surgery helps you lose weight by changing your stomach and digestive system to limit how much you can eat. Aside from helping you lose weight, it may help reverse diabetes in other ways, although scientists don’t yet know exactly why. One theory is that it affects the hormones in your gut to help your body control blood glucose.
Researchers estimate that upwards of three-quarters of people see their diabetes reversed after bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (also called sleeve gastrectomy) surgery have better long-term results than gastric banding.
Bariatric surgery is generally an option when your BMI is at least 35 if you have a weight-related health problem such as diabetes. It works best for people who’ve had the disease for 5 years or less and don’t use insulin.
If you’re obese and recently diagnosed, it’s something to talk about with your doctor. Because it’s surgery, there are serious risks. But most people who have it done end up reversing their diabetes.
Fasting can be a practical way to lose weight because it’s fairly straightforward, but it’s not a mainstream treatment for type 2 diabetes.
A very small study found therapeutic fasting — going without food and drink with calories for a set amount of time — can help reverse type 2 diabetes. Three people with diabetes followed a diet program of three 24-hour fasts each week for several months. They would eat only dinner on days they fasted, and lunch and dinner on days they didn’t fast, focusing on low-carbohydrate meals.
Two of the people in the study were able to stop taking all diabetes medication, and the third stopped three of their four medications. Within 1-3 weeks, all three of them could stop taking insulin. They lost between 10% and 18% of their body weight, or 20-23 pounds.
Another study showed that eating very few calories (500-600) 2 days a week and a normal diet the other days helped people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower their blood sugar levels just as much as limiting calories to 1,200-1,500 every day.
Though research continues, several studies show promise of intermittent fasting and several health benefits. Studies of intermittent fasting in humans with chronic disease have resulted in better control of their disease. However, these studies are done only over a period of months. It’s unclear if the benefits would remain for years if the diet is continued throughout life.
If you want to try fasting, you should work with your doctor so you get the right information and support to do it safely.
Is there a natural therapy that can cure diabetes?
No. Natural therapies such as deep abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress. And emotional stress affects your blood sugar levels. So learning to relax is important in managing your diabetes.
Supplements don’t cure diabetes, either. Some natural supplements may interact dangerously with your diabetes medication. Others have been shown to help improve your diabetes, but always check with your doctor before taking any supplement.
Be skeptical about claims of a diabetes cure. A genuine cure will have been tested repeatedly in clinical trials with clear success.
Are stem cells a possible cure for diabetes?
They hold promise, but stem cell transplants are not yet a treatment for diabetes.
Stem cells are cells that can develop into other types of cells. Scientists have had some success with stem cells in type 1 diabetes.
Is islet cell transplantation a cure for diabetes?
A successful islet cell transplant can improve the quality of life for a person with diabetes. It’s an evolving technology that’s still being researched.
Islet cells sense blood sugar levels and make insulin. The cells come from a donor.
Once transplanted successfully, the donor cells begin to make and release insulin in response to blood sugar levels. This procedure can provide more flexibility with meal planning and help protect against serious long-term diabetes complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve and eye damage.
The person receiving the transplant must take medicine for the rest of their life to prevent their body from rejecting the donor’s cells.
Is pancreas transplantation a cure for diabetes?
Getting a transplanted pancreas is a possibility for some people with type 1 diabetes. It’s usually done in those who also have end-stage kidney (renal) disease.
A pancreatic transplant would help restore blood sugar control. Like anyone else who gets a transplant, the patient would need to take medicine for the rest of their life to help their body accept their new pancreas.
When it comes to reversing diabetes, there’s no magic pill. If you see a product that claims to cure diabetes or replace your prescribed diabetes medication, beware. The FDA cautions that many illegally marketed things are unproven and possibly dangerous, including:
- Dietary supplements
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Alternative medicines
- Homeopathic products
- Prescription drugs
They found some products that claimed to be “all natural” had prescription drugs that weren’t listed as ingredients.
Those could change the way other medications you’re taking work or cause you to take too much of a drug without realizing it.
Top Picks
diet and gymnastics will restore health
Reading time: 3 min Published: Updated:
In case of diabetes mellitus the content of glucose in the blood increases, which leads to energy starvation of cells, since glucose does not enter the necessary tissues. This happens due to two reasons: 1 – the body cannot produce insulin, which is the main hormone that converts glucose into energy ( type 1 diabetes ), 2 – insulin is produced in normal or even increased amounts, but the mechanism of insulin interaction is disrupted with body cells ( type 2 diabetes ).
If diabetes is left untreated, high blood glucose will negatively affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels.
Diabetes leads to serious problems ranging from blindness and limb amputation to kidney failure and stroke. Therefore, it is very important to keep your sugar levels in the normal range, control diabetes if you have it, and get preventive care if you have a predisposition.
American scientists have figured out how a patient can prevent and control type 2 diabetes mellitus without resorting to drug therapy. The results of their research showed that programs given to people to reduce weight and increase physical activity were incredibly beneficial.
The study found that, compared with conventional treatment, almost all diets and physical activity programs reduced the incidence of type 2 diabetes . At the same time, there is a decrease in body weight and fasting blood glucose and an improvement in other risk factors (for example, blood pressure and cholesterol levels). The reviewers also noted that the more intensive programs had much better results than the standard programs: they led to greater weight loss and, consequently, a greater decrease in blood glucose.
It can be concluded that type 2 diabetes can indeed be treated in the early stages of the disease, controlled by diet therapy and properly selected physical activity.
In case of complications of diabetes mellitus, its uncontrolled course or an advanced stage, the company “ Treatment Abroad ” recommends contacting European specialists. We will help you find the best diabetes doctor for you, for example at the Rehabilitation Clinic Schloss-Mammern (Mammern, Switzerland). The clinic is known for its first-class rehabilitation facilities and effective preventive programs.
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Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease caused by high blood sugar and lack of the hormone insulin.
In diabetes mellitus, the metabolism is completely disturbed.
Symptoms of diabetes: thirst, increased urination, constant hunger. Diabetes is of two types. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce the necessary amount of the hormone insulin. In this case, insulin injections are required. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by sufficient production of insulin, to which the body gradually loses sensitivity. Type 2 diabetes is also called geriatric diabetes.
- Diet is an essential part of treatment for diabetes, as without it carbohydrate metabolism cannot be compensated.
- Self-monitoring of glycemic levels is another important point in the treatment of diabetes, which allows to achieve effective long-term compensation of carbohydrate metabolism. It is usually done with a glucometer.
- Insulin therapy. Insulin treatment is essential for people with type 1 diabetes and can sometimes be given to people with type 2 diabetes. The dose of insulin administered depends on the time of day, as well as on the amount of food eaten by patients with diabetes.
- Antidiabetic drugs are prescribed along with the diet and have the function of reducing the absorption of sugar (glucose) in the intestines.
Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 is a chronic disease for life, it cannot be completely cured, all treatments relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Diabetes benefits from moderate exercise and overall weight loss.
In the medical center “DonMed” you can take all the necessary analyzes , as well as get advice from an experienced endocrinologist with 47 years of experience and other qualified specialists.
Endocrinologist in Lyubertsy (Horizon Clinic)
The DonMed MC team applies high quality standards in medicine now in Lyubertsy (MOSCOW) , the Horizon Clinic.
The clinic performs the entire range of diagnostic examinations necessary for an accurate diagnosis. All types of ultrasound examinations are performed on modern equipment for patients of any age.
Go to the site MC Horizon
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