Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Over Time?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. The disease develops when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance – your body’s inability to use insulin properly. 

Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that moves glucose from the blood into your cells. When the pancreas fails to do its job in producing and regulating insulin to transform food into accessible cell energy, the result often is diabetes.

Depending on whether you have Type 1 or Type 2, the requirement for insulin for diabetes will be different. Type 1 is considered an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakes the body’s own healthy cells as foreign invaders. In response, the immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells are unique cells in the pancreas that produce, store and release insulin. Once beta cells are destroyed, the body is unable to produce insulin, and you need insulin shots to use glucose you get from meals. 

With Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Furthermore, cells do not respond well to insulin and as a result take in less sugar. Some people with Type 2 diabetes need diabetes pills or insulin shots to help their bodies use glucose for energy. 

Type 2 diabetes risks and symptoms
The CDC reports more than thirty-eight million American have diabetes (about 1 in 10) and 90% to 95% have Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops over years and usually among adults, although more children, teens, and young adults have the condition. Nearly 5300 youth were diagnosed each year in 2017 and 2018. 
Diabetes Type 2 symptoms include:

•    Increased thirst
•    Loss of weight without trying
•    Are very hungry 
•    Frequent urination
•    Dry mouth
•    Fatigue
•    Headaches
•    Blurry Vision
•    Dry skin
•    Cuts, scrapes, and sores that take a long time to heal
•    Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
•    More infections than usual
Over time, high blood glucose levels can put a strain on the kidney leading to kidney disease. Type 2 diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. And the risk may be even higher if you cannot effectively manage the condition because high blood glucose can damage your cardiovascular system.

Can you reverse Type 2 diabetes?

Can you reverse Type 2 diabetes is a natural question after receiving a diagnosis of the condition. However, with Type 2 diabetes, you always have the risk of high blood sugar due to genetic factors and underlying problems with your beta cells. For those reasons, the focus is on Type 2 diabetes remission versus reversal. Managing Type 2 diabetes can lead to the condition going into remission. 

Remission means having an A1c test of 6.5% or lower without using diabetes medicine for at least three months. The A1c test (or hemoglobin A1c or glycohemoglobin test) is a blood test that shows the average level of blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months.

Research finds individuals can have glucose levels that return to non-diabetes range (complete remission) or pre-diabetes glucose level (partial remission). When glucose levels decline, beta cells begin to function again, reports Beth Israel Lahey Health Joslin Diabetes Center.  

The Center continues, however, because of damage to the beta cells and because the underlying genetic factors contributing to the person’s susceptibility to diabetes still are there, the result is that you achieve diabetes remission versus reversal. Over time the disease process reasserts itself and so destruction of the beta cells continues. A contributing factor, such as weight gain, can reinstate the symptomatic glucose intolerance. 

Healthy eating for Type 2 diabetes

Although you cannot reverse Type 2 diabetes, primarily people with the condition achieve remission by maintaining a moderate weight since excess fat affects how the body produces and uses insulin. A modest, lower-calorie diet can help put you on the path to remission.

The key to healthy eating, according to the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),    is to eat a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups in the amount established in a meal plan specific to your needs.  The food groups are non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein foods, and dairy or plant-based dairy products.  You will also want to eat food with heart-healthy fats, which come from: 
•    vegetable oils like olive and canola, which are good sources of unsaturated fats
•    nuts and seeds 
•    heart-healthy fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel 
At the same time, limit fried foods and other foods high in saturated and trans fats, foods high in salt. and sugary foods such as cookies and cakes and sweet drinks, including soda, juice, flavored coffee and sports drinks. To stay on track with healthy eating, look at the label of the foods you buy to make sure they are appropriate for your plan. 

Other diabetes lifestyle changes

Other steps to take to help that can help you toward achieving diabetes remission include: 

Blood sugar checks: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), your daily care plan should include checking your blood sugar levels several times a day as directed by your doctor. You will want to record the numbers and share the information with your health team during visits. 

Diabetes medicines: CDC also advises taking the amount of diabetes medicine your doctor prescribes, even when you feel good. 

Daily Exercise: The American Diabetes Association recommends getting 150 minutes of exercise a week. Walking is one of the easiest and best exercises if you have diabetes.   Riding a bike, gardening, dancing, cleaning house and even playing with your pets are activities that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine. 

Achieve life/health balance: As part of your care plan, set aside time to achieve peace and calm. Achieving balance can include anything from meditating, performing breathing exercises or the use of aromatherapy and music therapy. Simply sitting, writing, and reading can help you recharge.   

You may be able to change your Type 2 diabetes condition, sending diabetes into remission. The key is to collaborate closely with your medical team and adhere to your daily diabetes management plan.