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What is reversal of insulin resistance

R

Richard Hey

Newbie
I see in various places people claim reversal of insulin resistance; I was diagnosed aout six years ago. I keep my HbA1C between between 5.8 and 6.0% with diet and exercise to me this signifies I am controlling my condition not reversing it. Is it possible to reverse it?
 
Hi @Richard Hey and welcome to the forums.

I'm probably not the best person to answer this but thought I'd reply if only to give you a welcome.

From what I've read I think this may be one of those "how long is a piece of string questions"? So it sounds like you have used diet to normalise your blood sugar readings but have you had any tests to determine how much insulin you are now producing and hence to see whether your levels are normal because your insulin resistance has gone down or because your insulin production can cope with the current levels of carbs? (Or maybe a bit of both?)

I certainly find that I need less insulin if I exercise a lot (as a T1 I know exactly how much insulin my body is using becasuse I inject it), so would argue that it is definitely possible to reduce insulin resistance.

Reversing it altogether would seem to me to depend on why you got it in the first place, because if those circumstances reoccur you might expect to re-experience the issue.?
 
Unfortunately insulin resistance cannot be reversed, however insulin sensitivity may increase, however if carbs is reintroduced, a certain amount maybe tolerated, there's a tipping point.
Diabetes is well controlled, not reversed.

Dr Aitken is right everyone has a level of carbohydrates which can be handled before weight is gained, lower the carbs weight is lost. That's how lost my weight.
That was well before I became diabetic T2. Same principles apply,
 
I think it’s about what you see the word reversal as meaning. This is a frequently seen discussion - on semantics imo.

Medically it means achieving normal blood glucose levels without medication. There is variation even within that. Some say below 48mmol, others below 42 (prediabetic). Some allow metformin, most don’t. Some need it maintained for a period of time before declaring it.

Reversing, to me, means turning it back the other way. So if your insulin resistance (blood glucose etc) has reduced it has reversed. Whether it makes it all the way back to normal is another thing.

It certainly doesn’t mean the same as “cured” in my book which seems to be the definition some think it means and dispute
 
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HSSS said:
I think it’s about what you see the word reversal as meaning. So this is a frequently seen discussion on semantics imo.

Medically it means achieving normal blood glucose levels without medication. There is variation even within that. Some say below 48mmol, others below 42 (prediabetic). Some allow metformin, most don’t. Some need it maintained for a period of time before declaring it.

Reversing, to me, means turning it back the other way. So if your insulin resistance (blood glucose etc) has reduced it has reversed. Whether it makes it all the way back to normal is another thing.

It certainly doesn’t mean the same as “cured” in my book which seems to be the definition some think it means and dispute
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I can see where you are coming from. Numbers can be lowered, therefore reversing the upward trend back to prediabetes level whether its below 48/42 mmol. Lower numbers does not mean cured.
 
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