If you get a diabetes diagnosis, it can feel very frightening. After all, for years, diabetes was viewed as a chronic disease that was very difficult to treat, and in many cases, it could (and did) lead to an early death when complications arose, and when it was present alongside other metabolic diseases, such as heart disease.
But things are changing. Regular health monitoring, early diagnosis, a deeper understanding of diabetes and new treatments mean that the outcomes are better than ever – for both types 1 and 2. And even more excitingly, doctors now know that it’s possible to reverse type 2 diabetes with the right care and treatment plan.
The news that diabetes remission in the UK is possible will still be a surprise to many, but the latest diabetes remission evidence is growing, with many more patients (particularly those at the early or borderline level of the disease) managing their lifestyle to reverse their condition. Let’s get into the topic and discover how patients may be able to reverse type 2 diabetes with lifestyle steps.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Before we look at diabetes remission in the UK, let’s recap the condition itself. Type 2 diabetes is a serious and chronic condition linked to insulin. Over time, your body either stops producing enough insulin to maintain healthy and normal glucose levels or becomes insulin-resistant, meaning your body doesn’t respond to the natural release of insulin in the body. This means that whenever you eat a source of sugar (including healthy carbohydrates), you end up with high blood sugar that the body cannot treat using insulin. Over time, circulating high blood sugar in the body can lead to serious complications that affect everything from your nerves and heart to your kidneys.
How is Type 2 diabetes treated?
Many people still assume that a diabetes diagnosis automatically means a lifetime of insulin injections. However, that’s not the case. The latest diabetes remission evidence shows that lifestyle interventions can go a long way to tackling diabetes, and even remove the need for drugs completely.
Lifestyle Interventions:
The first key focus areas for diabetes remission in the UK are lifestyle-based, as follows:
- Nutrition – Healthy eating is key to diabetes management and reversal. Eat low-glycaemic index foods as these don’t spike your blood sugar, plus plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Minimise processed foods and sugars as much as possible. This step alone will help to regulate your glucose.
- Exercise – To reverse type 2 diabetes without drugs, exercise! This means aerobic and resistance training to help manage blood sugar and lose excess weight. Aim to get at least 150 minutes of exercise every week, and find a form that you enjoy so that you stick to it.
- Lose weight – Even if you lose 5-10% of your body weight, you will see your blood sugar levels improve significantly, and this alone may be enough to reverse type 2 diabetes without drugs. Some doctors may encourage you to try things like the keto diet or intermittent fasting to help your body come back into balance.
Medication
There are various medications that are approved for diabetes remission in the UK, depending on your health, individual circumstances, and the severity of your diabetes. If you cannot achieve management or remission of early-stage diabetes with lifestyle management alone, your doctor might prescribe medications such as insulin, GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Monjouro and Wegovy), SGLT2 inhibitors, and metformin.
To Summarise
Type 2 diabetes treatment focuses on lowering blood sugar and preventing complications. First-line treatments include lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, losing excess weight, and getting 150+ minutes of exercise weekly. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, doctors commonly prescribe medications like metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, or GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The latest diabetes remission evidence shows that a person’s blood sugar levels can return to non-diabetic, healthy ranges in the long term without the need for insulin. For people with early-stage diabetes, also called borderline diabetes, weight control and diet alone may be sufficient. In fact, diabetes remission can often be achieved alone by losing weight. The DiRECT [1] study found that losing 22-33 lbs of weight helped to reduce dangerous visceral fat, which allowed the liver and pancreas to generate and handle insulin effectively again.
The NHS also offers managed programmes for diabetes avoidance and remission, such as the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme [2]. These are combined with regular monitoring, which is essential to ensure you remain on track and don’t become diabetic once again.
##What should I do if I think I’m at risk of diabetes?
The first thing to do is to book an appointment with your GP to discuss your concerns. Your GP can take your lifestyle history, do a blood test, and carry out other checks to see whether you are currently at risk of diabetes or showing signs of the condition.
FAQs
What are common symptoms of diabetes?
They include feeling much more tired than usual, feeling very thirsty, urinating more often – especially at night – having blurred vision, and experiencing weight loss that isn’t intentional. You may also notice that cuts take longer to heal.
Can I get diabetes from eating too much sugar?
Diabetes isn’t directly caused by sugar, but if you have too much, you can gain weight. Obesity is a clear risk factor for type 2 diabetes. When you manage diabetes with diet, you’ll focus on reducing all of your carbohydrate intake.
Is there a cure for diabetes?
There is no cure, but you can put diabetes in remission with the interventions described above and lead an active, healthy life.
