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Reversing diabetes after other condition resolves?

MauraH

MauraH

Well-Known Member
Messages
64
Location
Canada
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Happy New Year everyone. I have long-term hypothyroidism which was uncontrolled this past year, during which I got diagnosed with T2 diabetes. Six months later I have my hypothyroidism regulated thankfully working with a good endocrinologist. My blood glucose numbers were good, too, in the past few months due to strict low carbing.

Here is my question: in the past several days I've reintroduced carbs, albeit at a lower level than before diagnosis, because it's Christmas and hard to resist. This includes bread which was the worst for me. Then I test 2 hours later and my readings are normal--5s and 6s! I use two different metres to make sure. Is this a reversal of T2 diabetes? (Not that I would ever return to high carbs.)
 
Oh, that is GOOOOD news!

Nice one.

I would say it is too early to know, and that you need to keep testing for a while, with different foods and different circumstances, but fingers crossed for you!

Has there been weight loss too, or is the main change the Thyroid medication?
 
I lost 20 lbs and am now at my ideal weight of 118 lbs. i have been for about three months.

Does diabetes ever reverse?
 
MauraH said:
I lost 20 lbs and am now at my ideal weight of 118 lbs. i have been for about three months.

Does diabetes ever reverse?
Click to expand...

Professor Taylor of the Newcastle Diet Study suggests (backed by his study findings) that we all have a Personal Fat Threshold.
Stay below the threshold, and we don't have visceral fat (which clogs up liver and pancreas and effectively triggers T2)
Gain weight to rise above the threshold and the body starts to store fat in and around the organs - and the T2 symptoms appear.

If that is what has happened to you then you may stay symptom free as long as you stay under your Personal Fat Threshold - which would be wonderful.:D

But (sorry to say) you do need to bear a few things in mind:
Personal Fat Thresholds do not stay the same over time.
They are affected by muscle mass, tendency to deposit visceral fat, activity/fitness levels, age, etc.
So the PFT of a fit active muscley 35 year old is very different from the PFT of the same person 20 years later, if they have less muscle, less excerise and a different lifestyle...
Some people develop T2 for different reasons than exceeding their PFT, and those reasons may cause the symptoms to return, even if you stay under the PFT.

Sorry about those last comments. Don't want to burst your bubble (and what a fine, shiny bubble it is!) but worth bearing them in mind as a useful reminder to watch the carbs, keep active and avoid weight regain.

:)
 
All this research is great news and very hopeful. It's so great that we have the forum to spread the word.

Ha, I am not at all muscley at the moment! I was too tired with hypothyroidism and diabetes to exercise. There is research showing that women with diabetes find exercise extremely wearying for physiological reasons. I used to feel like I was carrying a suitcase. I can't find the study right now.
 
Here is a relevant article. If you go to google scholar you can read the whole thing for free:

Reversal of type 2 diabetes: normalisation of beta cell

function in association with decreased pancreas

and liver triacylglycerol

E. L. Lim & K. G. Hollingsworth & B. S. Aribisala &

M. J. Chen & J. C. Mathers & R. Taylor


This study demonstrates for the first time the time
course of a return of normal beta cell function and

hepatic glucose output by acute restriction of dietary

energy intake in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The

changes occurred in association with decreases in

pancreatic and liver triacylglycerol concentrations. This

new insight allows an understanding of the causality of

type 2 diabetes in individuals as well as in populations. It

carries major implications for information to be given to

newly diagnosed patients, who should know that they

have a potentially reversible condition and not one that is

inevitably progressive.
 
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