Is Type 2 Diabetes Reversible?

NewTD2 said:

It was actually mentioned to me by my Endocrinologist during my health review

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Are you sure you heard him right? That is a ridiculous thing for him to say in my opinion. There are very few non-diabetics in that range! That is an equivalent of an average of 4.1 to 5.0 mmol/l

StephenD said:

I have just recently (in the last week) been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. My GP has prescribed insulin but I have failed to take these. I have heard through friends that typ2 diabetes is reversible. Is this the case or should I just continue on with the injections.

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Read or play on Audible Jason Fung Diabetes Code and Obesity code. He catergorically states it can be reversed, easier for some than others. Of course it will return if you go back to eating Sugar and carbs which got you to where you are in the first place.

Bluetit1802 said:

Are you sure you heard him right? That is a ridiculous thing for him to say in my opinion. There are very few non-diabetics in that range! That is an equivalent of an average of 4.1 to 5.0 mmol/l

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An HBA1c of 20-29 according to my Endo is considered non-diabetic and if a diabetic hits an HBA1c below 29, it has reversed, according to him.

I will be more than happy to be between 35-38 because any lower I know I will be constantly hungry and suffer from hypos!

StephenD said:

What has been recommended is a Mediterranean type diet - has anyone any experience of this? I'd rather change my diet then be dependent on insulin.

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Pioppi Diet and lifestyle change. Dr Aseem Malhotra. No 1 bestseller on Amazon. Watch his film the big fat fix on Diet Doctor

The Mediterean diet is a broad church as it is very different in Spain, Turkey, Pioppi or Morroco. I would say Type 2 is reversible as understood by Miss Blogs and Mr Blogs - there are loads of threads on this site, and as there is an international audience again the definition is fluid.

In the UK there are 3 official statuses which simplified (as there are codes) are Diabetic, Remission, Resolved.

If by reversal you mean removing drugs and getting non-diabetic numbers then the answer is yes for many; on many trials of low carb or calorie restrictive low fat many deem reversal as <48 for a reversal - my view is <41 for at least 3 testing cycles (without drugs (my view)).

I advocate real food, non vegetable based oils and a protocol of LCHF / Keto with intermittent fasting, quality sleep and if possible exercise - starting with walking after each meal.

briped said:

That happened to me when my otherwise conveniently forgotten diagnosis of T2 was 'rediscovered' when admitted for other reasons (see my sig). I was prescribed victoza and insulin at the same time. Luckily I rarely saw the same doc twice, and one of them didn't agree with my being on both meds, and took me off the insulin, so yes, you're right. It does happen.

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I'm so glad to hear you are doing better now! Are you still on any diabetes meds, and did you notice any major or long term side effects?

According to Blood Sugar 101 (link in my signature), a well managed basal/bolus insulin regime doesn't necessarily cause weight gain, but it's common for some doctors to still be using the outdated understanding that it does. Short term insulin therapy for T2s seems to me be particularly valuable for helping someone through a crisis where the risk of infection and other potentially life threatening complications of hyperglycaemia calls for rapid BG reduction (eg ~4 weeks instead of ~6 months or more). Obviously if the person fails to change their dietary pattern, they will end up in crisis again, so it must be *well* managed by all involved.

NewTD2 said:

It was actually mentioned to me by my Endocrinologist during my health review

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I think @DCUKMod was asking if, ideally, you had a reference to a study or a guideline making the claim, because then we can read it and understand it better. I've had specialists say all kinds of things based on their clinical experience, which are valid for them, and potentially useful for me, but if he or she is the only doctor saying it, then it's a bit hard for everyone else to utilise the knowledge when, ie no studies have been done.

I reached an A1c of 31 and held it for some time. I do not consider my diabetes had or ever could "reverse." Not unless a gene therapy is developed, tested and released. I prefer the term remission. I think "reverse" is a layman's term that (as yet) has no sound scientific basis. Not that it matters though. As long as people are safely working toward sustainable BG levels that reduce the risk of complications, I try not to judge individual ways of doing that.

suzyricks said:

Read or play on Audible Jason Fung Diabetes Code and Obesity code. He catergorically states it can be reversed, easier for some than others. Of course it will return if you go back to eating Sugar and carbs which got you to where you are in the first place.

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According to some researchers/studies, it's not always as straightforward as "eating too many carbs causes T2."

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/47101698.php

From me observation of my father with diabetes t2, who has reduced his hba1c from 5.8 to 4.7 in a year. His diabetes is under good control by low carb intake of 70-90g a day but not reversed. His first phase blood glucose lowering capability is still no where to be seen and his second phase i would say it is something like 60% of a healthy person.

Australiadiabetic2 said:

I have been diagnosed same as you just recently and i am only prescribed medication such as glucolizade so unsure why you need insulin??

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Do you get free prescriptions if you are a diabetic in Australia or if you are over 60 thanks