Is Diabetes Reversible?

Chances are, you either have diabetes or know someone who does. Unfortunately, this is just a statistical reality. Some 40 million US adults have diabetes, and more than twice that number have prediabetes (more on that later). Let’s talk about what diabetes is, why it’s important, and how it’s treated. In some cases, diabetes may be reversible, so be sure to read to the end to find out how.

What is Diabetes, anyway?

Diabetes is a metabolic problem, meaning the body doesn’t handle and process energy the way it should. There are 3 main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 happens when the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys some of the cells in the pancreas, so that it can no longer make the hormone insulin, which helps the body use and store blood sugar. Insulin is essential for regulating blood sugar, and people with Type 1 diabetes require insulin treatment to live. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy.  What follows in this article applies only to Type 2 diabetes. Before trying anything to manage or reverse diabetes, please talk with your doctor.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

The most common type of diabetes is called Type 2 diabetes. It accounts for some 90% of diabetes cases. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, people with Type 2 diabetes make plenty of their own insulin, but over time their bodies become resistant to its effects. This causes blood sugar to rise and damages literally every part of the body. Indeed, the complications of Type 2 diabetes are far-ranging and dire: heart attacks, strokes, amputations, kidney failure, blindness, cancer, and more. 

How is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?

Diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests showing elevated blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes usually takes years, even decades, to develop. Over time, the body becomes more and more resistant to its own insulin, and blood sugar starts creeping up. At some point, someone may develop what we call prediabetes, meaning their blood sugar is higher than we’d like to see, but not high enough to meet the diagnosis of diabetes. Prediabetes is also a sign of poor metabolic health, and is a warning that without changes, the person is likely to develop diabetes in the future. At B1, we evaluate for early signs of insulin resistance, even before prediabetes shows up, to try and reverse things before it’s too late.

How is Type 2 Diabetes Treated?

There are several ways to address a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. You may already know there are lots of medicines available to help manage the high blood sugars of diabetes and thus reduce the risk of complications. The usual scenario for someone with Type 2 diabetes is that they get prescribed medications, and over time they get prescribed more and more medications. This can be expensive and inconvenient, not to mention, while medications can often forestall some of the complications of diabetes, most people will eventually experience some bad consequences even with medication treatment.

But what if you don’t want to just manage your blood sugars?  What if you actually want to reverse your Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes?  Is that even possible? The short answer is yes, it is possible to reverse Type 2 diabetes. 

Diabetes Reversal without Medications

The most effective ways to reverse Type 2 diabetes is through changing your habits or undergoing weight loss surgery. We’ll save surgery for another time, but let’s talk about what habits might help someone reverse Type 2 diabetes.  

You probably won’t be surprised (though you may not be pleased) to hear that changing your diet, losing weight, moving more, sleeping better, and reducing stress are the best ways to reverse Type 2 diabetes. At B1, we help people reverse diabetes without medications by adopting healthier habits.  

There is no single diet that works for everyone, but any diet that keeps carbohydrates and calories at a healthy level can be effective. So we design a custom nutrition plan for our members based on their particular needs and goals. In general, though, any healthy diet is going to limit or eliminate junk foods, added sugars, and alcohol, while ensuring adequate intake of protein and healthy fats. Talk to your doctor or dietitian for specific recommendations for you. Most people with Type 2 diabetes will need to lose weight (in particular adipose or fat tissue) in order to reverse their diabetes.   

Movement is also important for reversing Type 2 diabetes. Think of your muscles like little sugar sponges, soaking up the sugar out of your bloodstream.  The more you squeeze and pump your muscles, the more sugar they can soak up. This can start with something as simple as a 10-minute walk after meals.  

And don’t underestimate the importance of healthy sleeping habits and stress reduction. Poor sleep and too much stress both increase insulin resistance and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Can I Cure My Type 2 Diabetes?

We don’t usually consider Type 2 diabetes to be cured. Rather, if someone with diabetes is able to normalize their blood sugars, we say their diabetes is in remission. That’s because if they go back to their old habits, the diabetes is likely to come right back. 

If you or someone you know has insulin resistance, prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes, just know that it may be reversible without medications. Like treatment of any major illness, diabetes reversal should always be supervised by a knowledgeable physician. And though it may take hard work and effort, given that Type 2 diabetes is so dangerous, the effort is well worth it.