Remission

Basically with a T2D diagnosis, it means that we have an impaired capacity to deal with glucose toxicity. Too much glucose in the blood is toxic for us. Typically a condition that took decades to developed.

Some of us may be able to restore some of that capacity thru dietary and lifestyle changes that reduces our glucose/insulin load, and improve our insulin sensitively.

But if we revert back to a lifestyle that continually increases insulin/glucose load. It won't take long to be lose that capacity again...

And it is about fat loss, not necessarily weight loss, especially fats around our liver and pancreas.

Most people have varying degree of success with a combo of lower carbs and intermittent fasting.

You would need to find a level of carbs/fats that is sustainable and comfortable for you.

Your readings shows you are pretty much on the right track.

Lily 2 said:

I’m 3 months into my diagnosis and have dropped my ac1 from 64 to 48 but I still take 1000mg of metformin a day, my bs 2 hours after meals is always between 5 and 6.5 but my morning bs is always in the 6s

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Lily 2 said:

hi
Could people please share the stories of how they achieved remission and what it means for them, I’m 3 months into my diagnosis and have dropped my ac1 from 64 to 48 but I still take 1000mg of metformin a day, my bs 2 hours after meals is always between 5 and 6.5 but my morning bs is always in the 6s and when I was last Ill it was in the high 8s so I was just wondering how do you get into remission is it the lchf diet or the blood sugar diet or just weight loss in general, does the weight loss have to be fast or will steady work to and also when you’re in remission does that mean things like stress or illness no longer spike you blood sugar. Sorry for all the questions I just feel drs give shocking advice, I was told loose weight and you can cure yourself, and it sounds fantastic but to good to be true, I was told you are cured while ever you don’t put the weight back on and stick to low carb but my nurse said it’s not true and I would still be a diabetic and at all the risks of a diabetic, sorry again just trying to get my head round this.

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Diabetes is a generic term that covers a wide range of conditions. Most, but not all T2 diabetics are insulin resistant which means their cells can't use insulin effectively. Because no two diabetic people are the same the process that will get you into remission varies. Some can do it by diet alone, others need to up exercise and some can never really achieve it.
What this means is that you have to do everything you possibly can to improve your BG levels. Good diet is essential, but plenty of exercise is also effective. I cut out as much carbohydrate as possible, upped my exercise to an hour a day and did some weight training to increase muscle mass. Hence I put less glucose into my bloodstream and got my muscles working better to burn up the glucose that did get in. I am about to have my second HBa1C since diagnosis 6 months ago and I'm hoping that it will show BG in the normal range like the last reading. Even if it doesn't, I intend to continue with the same diet and exercise regime for the rest of my life. Why? Because I am fitter, healthier and in a better state of mind now than I have been for years.
BTW, don't worry too much about the early morning level. That is caused by the liver pumping glucose into the blood and it is the last thing to improve. Mine has only just started to fall despite months of good levels at other times of the day.

Lily 2 said:

I was told loose weight and you can cure yourself,

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It does appear, that a significant weight loss (20-25%) will mean you lose much of the visceral fat in and around your pancreas and liver, which leads to a reversal of T2D ( or remission)

Some people, especially those who did this by following the Newcastle Diet claim that they are able to return to eating normally, which I always consider ridiculous, as it was eating normally that gave us the condition in the first place.

However you choose to describe yourself T2D/reversed/remission/cured is a matter for the individual but gaining control of T2D and reducing or removing the symptoms is everyone's aim, and however you achieve this it will take a significant lifestyle change which you are unlikely to want to stop after reaching your goal.

I think it's all a matter of what words you want to use. Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with T2. I've managed it using the LCHF diet that everyone goes on about. When I started last May I was 17 stone and had an HBA1C of 70, I'm now just under 13 stone and have today got my latest test result back at 37 - which is 'normal'. My doctor says I'm in remission, but that putting the weight back on would cause me my HBA1C to rise again...this is why I don't consider myself 'cured'. Because what caused me to lose weight (without even trying) was the LCHF diet......so if I stopped low-carbing I would put on weight and that would be what would take me out of 'remission' and back to being diabetic again. My GP says I'm no longer diabetic - but that's like saying I'm no longer fat...it's true, but it doesn't mean I couldn't get fat again if I took my eye off the ball!. Hope that helps and good luck with your journey.

My GP and I both describe my diabetes as ‘well controlled’. The In Remission in my avatar is the best choice here and is qualified by the definition of the word Remission in my signature. I’m in a temporary state, I don’t believe it’ll ever be permanent. If I stopped my Metformin or increased my carb intake I’m sure my blood sugar readings will shoot up. Having said that my GP and I are looking at reducing my Metformin at my next review

Lily 2 said:

That’s good rachox, I hope it works still for you lowering the metformin, I will hopefully try lowering mine in 6 months. It is really confusing the terms used for diabetics, I think they should agree on one. My dr said I could cure myself, a different doctor said it would be classed as diet control and my nurse says remission ( you can see why I’m confused ) my nurse did say the whole remission or what you wish to refer to it as is relatively new and they don’t know how long it lasts and if it even lowers risks but my dr is pretty sure if you “cure” yourself (his words) you can remain this way as long as you keep the weight off and follow a lower carb diet he also said health risks become that of a normal person. Again just confused me. Do any of you know if you do I’ll say go into “remission” does it help all blood sugar spike causes for example stress really spikes my bs and if I was to be in remission would this still be the case or can you not achieve remission when stress causes bs spikes, the same with illness .

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My blood sugars run in the non diabetic range all the time now. Stress will put them up a little but still within the upper end of normal. That didn’t used to be the case! I am very strict with my carb counting and testing and I have lost a shed load of weight so I guess that all helps me a great deal.

I am currently well controlled at 38. but i did have a "normal" dinner with workmates the other day...except the pudding. the rice shot my glucose up and after 2 hours was still at 7.6...so that is not normal.

social situations are difficult. esp when you dont wish to disclose the T2D status...and have to answer the ensuing (often well meaning) questions


TLDR: hb1ac under control because lowered carb/sugar load. not because of a magically functional pancreas/liver again.

I suppose it depends on which criteria you use. By ND criteria I reversed my T2 within four months. By my own criteria I am nowhere near reversal/remission.

It is natural for glucose to raise with illness or high stress even for peeps without diabetes but if the baseline is lower the increase is not so damaging. For me it is the only time I feel diabetic symptoms with increased thirst etc

Some stress in inevitable but you can work on managing your response and building yourself up for life's tougher times.

Lily 2 said:

That’s good rachox, I hope it works still for you lowering the metformin, I will hopefully try lowering mine in 6 months. It is really confusing the terms used for diabetics, I think they should agree on one. My dr said I could cure myself, a different doctor said it would be classed as diet control and my nurse says remission ( you can see why I’m confused ) my nurse did say the whole remission or what you wish to refer to it as is relatively new and they don’t know how long it lasts and if it even lowers risks but my dr is pretty sure if you “cure” yourself (his words) you can remain this way as long as you keep the weight off and follow a lower carb diet he also said health risks become that of a normal person. Again just confused me. Do any of you know if you do I’ll say go into “remission” does it help all blood sugar spike causes for example stress really spikes my bs and if I was to be in remission would this still be the case or can you not achieve remission when stress causes bs spikes, the same with illness .

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Hi @Lily 2 well done on how you’re going. Re your query about stress. I’m certain that my stress, anxiety and depression over years of caring did contribute to my development of diabetes alongside eating a low fat high carb diet and consequently gaining weight. I’m no longer on meds, have an hbaca1 of 30, eat keto and now have a bmi of 20 but stress does still put up my bgs temporarily however as @Rachox says she experiences the highs are lower than they were in the past and the same with illness. My Normal bgs range mainly in 4s to low 5s now but stress can raise to high 5s. I also find that mindfulness sessions can lower them back to normal fairly quickly and no longer have anxiety and depression ( this resolved very early on). Hope this helps. Think I may be technically in remission but don’t consider myself to be so yet I feel I’m well controlled mainly by keto eating.

Lily 2 said:

Wow you are all doing so well however it is referred to, i am in low carb and have lost two stone quite easily, I had my a1c done and it was 64 (diagnosed diabetic) then 6 weeks of low carb fetched my a1c down to 48 and the 1000mg metformin, but I really hope I can achieve similar numbers to you, I was I’ll in them 6 weeks to and it was a struggle to keep below 9 and it’s a similar story when I’m stressed, shelley I have just started Headspace to help with my depression and anxiety and I have a appointment to see a councillor, I hope this helps me control my stress levels better, I have taken the diagnosis quite badly and think some help is needed. Snowmonkey I am dreading social situations, I’m made to feel awkward enough that I don’t drink alcohol but I would feel very uncomfortable explaining my diabetes to someone.

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Hi @Lily 2 i use Headspace to manage my stress and find it more helpful than anything. It’s hard in beginning you just need to do as often as possible just a few mins regularly and it becomes more and more effective. When had a recent ear infection and in pain I used it to manage pain and on my highest bg day I used it three times and it lowered my readings. I had hbaca1 of 97 on diagnosis btw and was obese at the time with depression and anxiety plus the diagnosis didn’t help! No meds at all now of any kind including no anti depressants. I had CBT a few years back and it was helpful but my moods are so good with this way of eating and find Headspace is my main tool now to manage the stress resulting from my role as a carer to my eldest autistic son and elderly mum! So situation re caring hasn’t changed but the way it affects me is light years away from before - there is hope keep going and hope Headspace works for you.