Hi, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November 2017 and was told that it can't be reversed but controlled with diet. I have seen on the television that people with this type of diabetes have reversed it, I'm so confused. Since being diagnosed I have lost 2 stone in weight and take regular exercise (mainly walking and exercise bike) and have tried to stick to a healthy diet but still crave things like pizza (I only succumb once a month). Do any of you have cravings and how do you control the "urge"?
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Can diabetes be reversed through diet?
- Thread starter Hunnyb22
- Start Date
rab5
Well-Known Member
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
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- My Diabetic nurse
In simple terms I think the answer is yes. It’s word play in some other respects. Reverse, remission etc etc. I believe you can stop it in the right circumstances from getting worse.
When you say a healthy diet what do you mean ?
When you say a healthy diet what do you mean ?
Mr_Pot
Well-Known Member
Most of the confusion is about the terms, reversed, in remission, controlled etc. Whatever you call it, many people on here have got down to non-diabetic levels using diet alone.
Guzzler
Master
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- Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
Hello and welcome.
I agree with the comments upthread, the terminology is unimportant really. The outcome is what matters. You can gain good management, lower the risk of complications and become a healthier happier person by learning how food and excercise affects you personally. Do you have a glucometer at home? If not I would advise that you get one.
Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.
I agree with the comments upthread, the terminology is unimportant really. The outcome is what matters. You can gain good management, lower the risk of complications and become a healthier happier person by learning how food and excercise affects you personally. Do you have a glucometer at home? If not I would advise that you get one.
Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.
Pinkorchid
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- 2,927
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
If you mean by reversed no longer having diabetes then I would say no it can't be. It can be controlled but once a diabetic always a diabetic until a cure is found
Bluetit1802
Legend
Hi and welcome,
If you mean can Type 2 diabetes be cured, the answer is no. There is no cure as such.
It can be put into remission with diet. Whether you use the words remission, reversal, or controlled, it leads to the same thing. Non-diabetic blood sugar levels. However, return to previous ways of eating and gain weight and it will more than likely come back. Basically, this means the eating plan you follow has to be sustainable for the rest of your life (give or take an odd treat)
Well done on the 2 stone weight loss. That is wonderful.
What is your diet like at the moment? What types of food do you eat?
daisy1
Legend
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- Tablets (oral)
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- Cruelty towards animals.
@Hunnyb22
Hello Hunnyb22 and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello Hunnyb22 and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Resurgam
Master
- Messages
- 10,137
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I simply cannot eat a diet which is considered normal, healthy etc - I have never had a meal which consisted of pizza - though I have tasted them I can't see the point - but I have never eaten an oreo or one of those triangular crisps covered in 'dip' or lasagna, as I have always put on weight really easily and used to joke that I must be able to digest cellulose as carbs affected me so much.
I was so relieved to discover that eating the same diet which controlled my weight also put me into the normal range for BG and Hba1c, so I stick to it like glue, as the side effects of Metformin and a statin were dire, I already knew how my grandmother died from uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and I had reached 264lb on a cholesterol lowering diet which did not work but the Dr insisted on it for almost two years. It means that I could eat more carbs - but I would think myself crazy to do so.
I was so relieved to discover that eating the same diet which controlled my weight also put me into the normal range for BG and Hba1c, so I stick to it like glue, as the side effects of Metformin and a statin were dire, I already knew how my grandmother died from uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and I had reached 264lb on a cholesterol lowering diet which did not work but the Dr insisted on it for almost two years. It means that I could eat more carbs - but I would think myself crazy to do so.
