can you reverse T2 permanently?

[angievee]

Hi, I cant find an answer to this question so hope you can help - my Hba1c started at 93 almost 2 years ago, but I followed a low carb diet from day 1, so it went down quickly to 31-35 and stays around that level. I keep hearing diabetes is "progressive", but if I stay in remission, eating low carb permanently, can my hba1c levels still rise in coming years? I cant see why, but I have never seen anything in black and white to give me that little glimmer of hope! thanks

 

[Rachox]

I have done similarly to you and have maintained my HbA1c in the mid 30s for nearly a year and a half now on low carb eating. I do take a modest dose of Metformin too. I sincerely hope I can keep this going indefinitely and dramatically reduce or even remove my risk of complications. I suppose as low carbing is new in the big scheme of things we are the guinea pigs to see if we stall progression. There are folks on this forum who have maintained control for longer than us both. Hopefully they will comment here.

 

[angievee]

I have done similarly to you and have maintained my HbA1c in the mid 30s for nearly a year and a half now on low carb eating. I do take a modest dose of Metformin too. I sincerely hope I can keep this going indefinitely and dramatically reduce or even remove my risk of complications. I suppose as low carbing is new in the big scheme of things we are the guinea pigs to see if we stall progression. There are folks on this forum who have maintained control for longer than us both. Hopefully they will comment here.

thanks Rachox, yes thats a good way to see it, this is all a relatively new way of dealing with T2. That helps me see it more clearly thanks and well done on your numbers!

 

[Richard'63]

@angievee I hope so. From what I've been reading over the last year and a bit, T2 is caused (for most) by fat in and around your pancreas and liver, if you lose that fat (before permanent damage occurs) I don't see any reason why you would still be T2.

 

[DCUKMod]

@angievee - I was diagnosed with an A1c of 73, in October 2013. By the following February, my A1c was 37, and it has reduced further since. My last A1c was 30.

OK, that's only 5 years, and I hope I have many more years on this mortal coil, but I have no idea if my A1cs are forever or not.

Time will tell.

 

[angievee]

@angievee I hope so. From what I've been reading over the last year and a bit, T2 is caused (for most) by fat in and around your pancreas and liver, if you lose that fat (before permanent damage occurs) I don't see any reason why you would still be T2.

thanks Richard that makes sense. I have lost about 7" from my waist but still need to get rid of another inch or 2, which seems rather stubborn! I will have to look at I.F., but I tend to feel dizzy if I dont eat, so I have been putting it off so far

 

[angievee]

@angievee - I was diagnosed with an A1c of 73, in October 2013. By the following February, my A1c was 37, and it has reduced further since. My last A1c was 30.

OK, that's only 5 years, and I hope I have many more years on this mortal coil, but I have no idea if my A1cs are forever or not.

Time will tell.

Thanks @DCUKMod I guess we just keep going!

 

[britishpub]

I have no idea if my A1cs are forever or not.

Time will tell.

Yes, we can only really say that anything was "permanent" health wise at the point where it doesn't matter too much.

.....and as I very much doubt anyone who has successfully reversed their T2D would ever return to their previous lifestyle, it's not really feasible to use that as a marker for permanence either.

 

[DCUKMod]

Yes, we can only really say that anything was "permanent" health wise at the point where it doesn't matter too much.

.....and as I very much doubt anyone who has successfully reversed their T2D would ever return to their previous lifestyle, it's not really feasible to use that as a marker for permanence either.

Personally, I believe people set their own benchmarrks. Whether they continue to eat in the way that aided their reversal/remission, or do something different is for them to decide. Lt's face it, only they will enjoy the benefits of bear the consequences of whatever they decide.

 

[derry60]

I think that we learn to control with our way of eating rather than reverse it. Either way as long as my readings are good, I don't mind

 

[Guzzler]

This is just my opinion and not based on science or know-how.

I beleive that having reversed or put into remission our condition then the only things that can spoil our efforts are other illnesses e.g cancer of the liver/pancreas etc, and the aging process itself. Not forgetting that a return to the normal western diet would topple remission faster than anything else.

I truly think that I will, over time, have to tweak my diet and/or medications (whether these be for Diabetes or other conditions that creep in as I age) and because I am far more aware now than I was a couple of years ago I will hopefully be able to make more informed choices about treatments and changes to lifestyle.

 

[angievee]

This is just my opinion and not based on science or know-how.

I beleive that having reversed or put into remission our condition then the only things that can spoil our efforts are other illnesses e.g cancer of the liver/pancreas etc, and the aging process itself. Not forgetting that a return to the normal western diet would topple remission faster than anything else.

I truly think that I will, over time, have to tweak my diet and/or medications (whether these be for Diabetes or other conditions that creep in as I age) and because I am far more aware now than I was a couple of years ago I will hopefully be able to make more informed choices about treatments and changes to lifestyle.

Thanks @Guzzler thats great, it is how I see things, but medical profession havent given that hope to us - i guess they arent ready yet!

 

[Indy51]

Been low carb since June 2012 and kept A1c in 30's during those 6.5 years. I don't call myself reversed or in remission or anything else, because I know eating above about 35g carbs in any one meal will take me higher than I want to be. I just consider myself controlled by diet. I'm still kind of bemused the amount of debate that goes on about these terms both here and elsewhere. There was a recent kerfuffle about it on Twitter.

Since diagnosis, I've regularly seen the "truism" that most Type 2's end up on insulin within 10 years. So, I'll try to remember to report back in 3.5 years and let you know if that happens to me

 

[angievee]

Been low carb since June 2012 and kept A1c in 30's during those 6.5 years. I don't call myself reversed or in remission or anything else, because I know eating above about 35g carbs in any one meal will take me higher than I want to be. I just consider myself controlled by diet. I'm still kind of bemused the amount of debate that goes on about these terms both here and elsewhere. There was a recent kerfuffle about it on Twitter.

Since diagnosis, I've regularly seen the "truism" that most Type 2's end up on insulin within 10 years. So, I'll try to remember to report back in 3.5 years and let you know if that happens to me

lol @Indy51 yes do let us know!

 

[Yai]

Well, all I can say is that I have had type 2 diabetes for at least 25 years that I am aware of, and not on insulin, only metformin. I followed Rosemary Conley low fat diet for years, and have been following low carb diet (with greater success) for about a year now. I shall certainly do everything I can to stop progression of this disease.

 

[Ojustaboo]

I'm of the opinion you cant reverse it, ie if you went back to eating normally (not excessively, say you ate what your healthy slim partner ate, potatoes, pasta, a few beers etc) I suspect you would be back to diabetic readings in no time.

So I believe you can keep[ it in remission if you stick to a specific diet, but I don't believe you can reverse it to the point where you can eat normally, if ever I'm proven wrong, I'll be more than happy.

Just about to post my experience of coming off my LCHF diet for 10 days over Christmas. Not a good result

 

[Guzzler]

I'm of the opinion you cant reverse it, ie if you went back to eating normally (not excessively, say you ate what your healthy slim partner ate, potatoes, pasta, a few beers etc) I suspect you would be back to diabetic readings in no time.

So I believe you can keep[ it in remission if you stick to a specific diet, but I don't believe you can reverse it to the point where you can eat normally, if ever I'm proven wrong, I'll be more than happy.

Just about to post my experience of coming off my LCHF diet for 10 days over Christmas. Not a good result

Your 'healthy, slim partner' may be harbouring T2 by way of hyperinsulinaemia, not everyone has the classic symptoms of T2 and insulin levels can be raised for decades before any symptoms actively show up.