Even though Type 1 diabetes is not reversible or preventable (as it is an autoimmune disease), there are ways to reverse, delay or even prevent the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Before developing Type 2 diabetes, many people have what’s known as pre-diabetes, where blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not so high as to be classified as diabetes. This condition is very much reversible in most of the people.
Can We Reverse Type 2 Diabetes…
The alarming increase in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes appears to be mainly related to excess weight and obesity. 80 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes are either overweight or obese. Each kilogram increase in weight increases the risk of diabetes by almost 5 percent. The clinical experience and various studies have time and again proved, that weight reduction by lifestyle modifications like exercise or walking, along with optimal diet, are highly effective in reversing or even preventing Type 2 diabetes in at least 50 percent of patients. Reversing diabetes may not be that easy in all diabetic patients, but it should be tried.
Can diabetes be cured…
The traditional management of Type 2 diabetes has been ineffective in altering the progress of the disease, because efforts have focused solely on lowering glucose levels, which is only one manifestation of the disease. If possible, it is better to prevent or get rid of it, rather than live with it.
Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease, where you may not be cured completely, but you can achieve remission, which means you aren’t taking medication and your blood sugar levels stay in a healthy range, there’s always a chance that diabetes will return if you regain weight.
It’s possible for some people to go on for years without medication and maintain normal blood sugar levels.
When you have type 2 diabetes, cells that produce insulin are not working optimally. We used to think that it has stopped working permanently, but research is showing that certain cells may come back to life and start working again when you lose weight. Weight lose reduces the fat in the liver and pancreas, which helps the pancreas to reboot and start working again.
This rescuing act of the insulin producing cells happens better in the early phase of the disease. So it is better to lose weight immediately after the diagnosis rather than to manage your diabetes with medication.
Cure for diabetes...
Most of the people who reversed their diabetes have lost 10% of their weight or more. A simple lifestyle modification brings about dramatic changes in the management of your diabetes. Even if this is not strictly about reversing diabetes, this will help you optimise the effect of the medicines and minimise the doses.
Choose a healthy and balanced diet. Minimise the calorie intake to reduce your body weight. Avoid all processed foods, saturated and trans-fats. Avoid eating three big meals a day and try four to six smaller meals throughout the day. This will help with your metabolism and balance your body’s sugar levels.
Start exercising 30 minutes day, at least five days a week. The regular exercise can cut down the progression of diabetes, and even reverse its effects. Exercising also helps your body use medications more efficiently and helps control your cholesterol and blood pressure as well.
A gastric surgery called bariatric surgery has been found to effectively reverse Type 2 diabetes in morbidly obese patients.
In reality, there is no magic pill to get rid of diabetes. If you see a product that claims to cure diabetes or replace your diabetes medication, beware it may be a unproven, dangerous and illegal method.
The reversal involves commitment on your part and a lifestyle change that you will have to adapt for the rest of your life. Even after the reversal, diabetes may come back, if you relax a little bit.
ONE DAY I WOULD LOVE TO SAY I USED TO HAVE DIABETES…