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Is remission from T2 diabetes possible

R

Royjk

Well-Known Member
Messages
79
Location
Prague
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
So, several months ago I had a problem with taking insulin, due to BG dropping too low putting my body into a hypo situation.
I stopped taking insulin completely and had a feeling that diabetes was finished, that |I could cross it off from life's problems. I spoke to the doctor and was told that I could have a glucose test and if it came back less than 6.5 without medication, then yes diabetes was finished.
Then I managed to get pneumonia, which required antibiotics. I also discovered that I had a thing called C diff a gastric bacteria, this did not like the antibiotics, and I found myself in isolation for 10 days, in hospital, with stronger different antibiotics. Then I discovered that blood glucose and digestion interference actually gives a low BG reading on finger prick tests.
So it was not remission from diabetes I had experienced, but a serious gastric bacteria, which I had for several months. After full recovery my blood glucose and energy levels rose, bringing back the diabetes and need for insulin.
So now I wonder is remission from Type 2 diabetes possible?

Royjk
 
Royjk said:
So, several months ago I had a problem with taking insulin, due to BG dropping too low putting my body into a hypo situation.
I stopped taking insulin completely and had a feeling that diabetes was finished, that |I could cross it off from life's problems. I spoke to the doctor and was told that I could have a glucose test and if it came back less than 6.5 without medication, then yes diabetes was finished.
Then I managed to get pneumonia, which required antibiotics. I also discovered that I had a thing called C diff a gastric bacteria, this did not like the antibiotics, and I found myself in isolation for 10 days, in hospital, with stronger different antibiotics. Then I discovered that blood glucose and digestion interference actually gives a low BG reading on finger prick tests.
So it was not remission from diabetes I had experienced, but a serious gastric bacteria, which I had for several months. After full recovery my blood glucose and energy levels rose, bringing back the diabetes and need for insulin.
So now I wonder is remission from Type 2 diabetes possible?

Royjk
Click to expand...
I went into remission for a long time due to diet and exercise, however because of covid, illness and lack of exercise i crept back. Now on tablet and 2 insulins so yes it can return. The gift that keeps on giving
 
Remission, yes improvement in metabolism, again yes, possible, but we are still dealing with the same biological system that failed in the first place under the pressure of an environment beyond factory tolerance.
Having had to deal with Covid and then the latest 'flu' only a week or so later I am feeling very fragile - and my blood glucose levels are high because of it. Hopefully once I stop coughing and snivelling, my temperature returns to normal and I start to eat again - I was OK with the Covid but so down with the 'flu' things will realign.
 
I know of members who have reported 10+ yrs in T2D remission, I'm only 5 1/2 yrs in remission so far. Is long term T2D remission possible? - Yes I think so, but it isn't easy to keep it up because our bodies change over time and carb creep is a real thing (along with carb addiction).
While remission is possible, that doesn't mean that everybody can achieve it. There are over 40 things (apart from food) which can raise Blood Glucose, but once in remission, if you don't reward yourself by relaxing on what got you there, and are lucky enough to avoid Stress, Injury, Infection, Steroids and Statins then there is a decent chance of a good long remission.
 
I don't believe type 2 diabetes can be remission at all that's my belief you're always going to have diabetes you always have to take insulin the rest of your life once you start it you don't get off it my doctor doesn't want you to put me on insulin she knows with my mental health schizophrenia will be hard for me too do it and bipolar and anxiety it will be really hard I would have to end up in a nursing home or something like that if I was on insulin because it would be really difficult for me to be on my own so right now I try my best to do the best I can not to get insulin but I know someday it's going to progress and I'm not going to have a choice to be in a nursing home but no the answer is no remission is possible in type 2 diabetes once you're a diabetic you always be a diabetic just progresses over the years it's no stopping disease all die eventually from the disease
 
Royjk said:
So, several months ago I had a problem with taking insulin, due to BG dropping too low putting my body into a hypo situation.
I stopped taking insulin completely and had a feeling that diabetes was finished, that |I could cross it off from life's problems. I spoke to the doctor and was told that I could have a glucose test and if it came back less than 6.5 without medication, then yes diabetes was finished.
Then I managed to get pneumonia, which required antibiotics. I also discovered that I had a thing called C diff a gastric bacteria, this did not like the antibiotics, and I found myself in isolation for 10 days, in hospital, with stronger different antibiotics. Then I discovered that blood glucose and digestion interference actually gives a low BG reading on finger prick tests.
So it was not remission from diabetes I had experienced, but a serious gastric bacteria, which I had for several months. After full recovery my blood glucose and energy levels rose, bringing back the diabetes and need for insulin.
So now I wonder is remission from Type 2 diabetes possible?

Royjk
Click to expand...
It depends what you mean by "remission". I use it to mean absence of symptoms, including normal blood glucose levels achieved without medication. I've had normal blood glucose levels since April 2020, and am therefore approaching six years of normal BGs and five years in remission - it's five years because my practice uses a definition of "remission" that requires a qualifying 12 month period of normal (ie sub-42mmol/mol) BG without any glucose-lowering meds.

I don't for a moment believe that I could go back to the (officially-recommended) high carb way of eating without increasing my insulin resistance and in due course my blood glucose, and therefore my other symptoms. So remission to my mind is not a "cure", it just means that my T2 is being effectively managed.
 
For bog standard type 2, remission is possible with enough weight loss. It doesn't mean it's gone for good; if the weight is regained it will come back.
 
In medicine, remission is a period when the signs and symptoms of a disease lessen or disappear after treatment. It can be either partial, meaning some symptoms have improved but not all, or complete, meaning all signs and symptoms are gone. Remission doesn't always mean a cure, and the disease could return, so continued monitoring is often necessary.
 
IanBish said:
For bog standard type 2, remission is possible with enough weight loss. It doesn't mean it's gone for good; if the weight is regained it will come back.
Click to expand...
Different things for different people. My BG became normal before I'd lost any significant weight just as when it went out of normal range around 2009, weight gain followed.
 
KennyA said:
Different things for different people. My BG became normal before I'd lost any significant weight just as when it went out of normal range around 2009, weight gain followed.
Click to expand...
That's why I said "bog standard" - I know it's not the same for everyone. For me, weight loss seems to have worked to "wake up" my beta cells.
 
spidermanBill said:
I don't believe type 2 diabetes can be remission at all that's my belief you're always going to have diabetes you always have to take insulin the rest of your life once you start it you don't get off it my doctor doesn't want you to put me on insulin she knows with my mental health schizophrenia will be hard for me too do it and bipolar and anxiety it will be really hard I would have to end up in a nursing home or something like that if I was on insulin because it would be really difficult for me to be on my own so right now I try my best to do the best I can not to get insulin but I know someday it's going to progress and I'm not going to have a choice to be in a nursing home but no the answer is no remission is possible in type 2 diabetes once you're a diabetic you always be a diabetic just progresses over the years it's no stopping disease all die eventually from the disease
Click to expand...
I agree with you @spidermanBill , you cannot ‘cure, diabetes, it’s a chronic disease, but you can manage it. I personally believe Type 2 diabetes is not inevitably progressive if you are able to make lifestyle changes to stop its progression. This is usually achieved by changing your diet or through weight loss. The only form of diabetes that is truly progressive is Type 1 diabetes, currently you can’t stop that form of diabetes from progressing no matter what you do.
So with Type 2 there is hope.

However diabetic remission is interpreted you do stand a good chance of stopping it progressing to the point whereby you are not inevitably put on insulin, but it would mean lifestyle changes. You have mental health challenges, do you have a supportive team around you that can help you manage your meds as well as make some lifestyle changes? :)
 
I think there is a bit of a misconception regarding "remission" when it comes to diabetes. I see an awful lot of cases regarding reversing diabetes especially on the internet and I personally strive towards this myself. However I have found that it is possible to "control" but not actually reverse diabetes by say diet and exercise putting our blood sugars into so called normal or pre-diabetic values, However all of this happens whilst still taking medication so is this a remission or reversal of the disease? I think not, but at least it is positive a step towards getting on top of it and maybe even reducing drug dosages. Our bodies have some sort of problem one way or another and need a helping hand with drugs to cope with it, lifestyle changes certainly improve and help control things but whatever failing in our body or health has not sadly been cured, just made better with medication and we should be grateful for that.
 
From my experience I slowed down the progress of Type 1 with better control and careful diet. Type 2 clearly can be reined in in the experiences of many members of this Forum.
 
Personally I’ve graduated from low carb through keto to carnivore now back to keto.

Pure carnivore for me was just too stringent a

Theres good evidence imo that keto helps many conditions

For me I built up to it gradually

Maybe it’s not for everyone but I reckon its probably worth checking out


med.stanford.edu

Pilot study shows ketogenic diet improves severe mental illness

A small clinical trial led by Stanford Medicine found that the metabolic effects of a ketogenic diet may help stabilize the brain.
med.stanford.edu med.stanford.edu

 
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Unsure.

A surgeon didn't think so, they wrote to the GP saying I was a diabetic in September. A district nurse shared how her husband would lose weight and go round in circles with remission, yes she was of the mindset you put weight on, diabetes will be back.

Can you get cases where a historic mistaken diagnosis of diabetes happen? I've had to consider all things.

Playing the waiting game.
Taken of Metformin Feb 2025 but still on a GLP1
April 2025 battling an infection that had the power to take my life, wounds that take 6+ months to heal.
it took until a couple of months ago for me to refuse any more paying for injections
Now on the run (3 months completely without diabetic medication) to January 2026 when my bloods will be tested again.
 
I personally think it can be well controlled but once welcomed into the club that know one wants to be in, we will forever be reminded by professionals and it waits in the wings like a vulture! As soon as I put a few pounds on or slack, my readings go up. Back on the exercise and diet its better readings. Never ending and just thankful I can work out but as for looking forward into older age, I wonder what will happen if I am unable to keep mobile
 
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Well, I've learned something today about Canagliflozin. I was not aware of the association with it, DKA and a keto diet. I've been taking Canagliflozin for over 9 years, but I've never tried a keto diet, just lower carb, where I try to eliminate as many starchy carbs (bread, pastry, cake, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc) as I can, so whether this can be a risk, I don't know.

In relation to reversing or being in remission, in my case, I don't think it would be possible after 18 years of Type 2. My main aim is to get an HbA1c in 'non-diabetic' levels by diet and medication, and to take as little medication as achieves this aim.
 
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