Can Type 2 Diabetes be Reversed

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition with no cure. This, however, doesn’t mean it can’t be reversed. Studies show that type 2 diabetes can be managed and reversed through fasting, diet modification, exercise, and surgery. 

Reversing type 2 diabetes can help you go years without experiencing the symptoms and related health conditions that follow diabetes. However, it’s noteworthy that the reversal doesn’t guarantee complete immunity to diabetes symptoms. There’s a slight possibility of their return. 

The most effective solution for type 2 diabetes reversal is weight loss. You can easily manage diabetes by losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight range. 

Fasting 

Fasting can help you lose desired weight because your body has no calories to absorb. Although some believe that fasting is not the safest or most efficient way of reversing type 2, it is effective.

Therapeutic fasting was utilized in a study for reversing type 2 diabetes. Within eighteen days, all patients had successfully eliminated their insulin need. They were placed on a low-carbohydrate diet with about 840 calories allowed for their daily consumption. It’s also relevant that they lost 10% – 18% of their body weight during the program. 

Interestingly, none of the participants stopped fasting during the program out of choice. They also reported higher energy levels during the fasting period. Similarly, they experienced reduced blood sugar levels. 

Despite the vast existence of such studies, none of them possess data about the long-term effects of such treatment. This is because the studies are usually commenced and completed within months. 

If you decide to choose this method for weight loss, ensure you seek proper medical guidance from your doctor to ascertain the risks and benefits. 

Exercise

Physical activity can help you lose weight to reverse type 2 diabetes. Considering the challenge of using only workouts to lose weight, combining exercise with diet modification is beneficial. The combination of both not only allows you to burn excess weight but eliminates the possibility of regaining the lost calories with food.

A one-year exercise program created for treating type 2 diabetes patients achieved reversed diabetes in 61% of the patients. The intensive program encouraged the participants to get at least 150 minutes of physical exercise per week and maintain a healthy diet. After 12 months, the average recorded weight loss was 26 pounds, indicating the benefit of exercise to diabetes patients. 

Of course, weight loss is the goal, and exercise increases the chance to accomplish the goal. Ensure that you combine exercise programs with healthy diets to achieve the best results. 

Low-Calorie Diet

A low-calorie diet helps you lose weight by reducing the calories you consume daily. This forces your body to tap into the stored fat for your daily energy needs. With it being the most reliable method of losing weight, it comes with a particular certainty of reversing type 2 diabetes. 

A low-calorie diet was used in a study to determine if a low-calorie program could cause considerable weight loss and reverse diabetes. The study was a success as 67% of the participants could reverse diabetes and stop medication after one year in the program. Furthermore, the average weight loss was 22 pounds, indicating the efficacy of low-calorie diets in losing weight. 

Finally, note that this weight loss method is drastic, requiring professional consultation and monitoring. Be sure to seek a reliable health professional for the safest diet and proper advice. 

Bariatric Surgery

This surgical procedure modifies your digestive system to reduce food intake, as well as lose weight. There are three different forms of bariatric surgery procedures, all yielding different results.

• Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: This procedure helps to reduce your stomach size, limiting food intake. It’s beneficial for patients that can’t undergo long surgeries.
• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: This procedure changes the interaction between the pancreas and the gut by making a pouch in the stomach. The change in the interaction between the pancreas and gut limits your food intake.
• Duodenal Switch: This procedure makes a smaller stomach, and this causes reduced absorption of calories.

About 75% of people who have undergone bariatric surgery have reported reversed diabetes. Although the success of Bypass surgery is prevalent, not everyone is a candidate. The most appropriate patients are people with a BMI of 35 or more that have had diabetes for five years or less. 

Furthermore, it’s essential that you consult your doctor to talk about the severe risks involved in the surgery before attempting it. 

What Doesn’t Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

There are products out there that advertise the reversal of type 2 diabetes, however, are lacking in proof, studies, or medical recommendations. Therefore, it’s essential to be careful when you see any speedy treatment advertised.

Usually, these products contain harmful substances that can disrupt your current treatment or expose you to new ailments. Some of the products include:

• Counterfeit prescription drugs
• Ayurvedic remedies
• Alternative medicine
• Insulin tea
• Dietary supplements
• Natural treatments
• Homeopathic remedies
• Over-the-counter drugs
• Treatment devices