Although there's no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it's possible for some people to reverse it. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication.
This doesn't mean you're completely cured. Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease. Even if you're in remission, which means you aren't taking medication and your blood sugar levels stay in a healthy range, there's always a chance that symptoms will return. But it's possible for some people to go years without trouble controlling their glucose and the health concerns that come with diabetes.
So how can you reverse diabetes? The key seems to be weight loss. Not only can shedding pounds help you manage your diabetes, sometimes losing enough weight could help you live diabetes-free -- especially if you've only had the disease for a few years and haven't needed insulin.
Low-Calorie Diet
Several studies in England have looked at the effects of a very low-calorie diet on overweight people with diabetes. Two had people follow a mostly liquid diet of 625-850 calories a day for 2-5 months, followed by a less restricted diet designed to help them keep off the weight they lost. Both studies found that nearly half the people who took part reversed their diabetes and kept their blood glucose near the normal range for at least 6 months to a year.
This type of diet is extreme. It means working with a professional and being very controlled with how many calories you eat. But the chance that it could send you into remission may give you strong motivation to stick to it.
Most of the people who reversed their type 2 diabetes lost 30 pounds or more. They also hadn't had diabetes as long as those who weren't as successful. So it's important to get started on a weight loss plan as soon as possible after you're diagnosed.
What Happens
When you have type 2 diabetes, cells that help your body control your blood sugar stop working right. Doctors used to think they were shut down for good, but research shows that certain cells may come back. People who lost weight had lower levels of fat in their liver and pancreas, and for some of them, that helped the beta cells in their pancreas that release insulin and control blood sugar start working again.
The odds of rescuing those cells are best early on. That suggests it may be better for doctors to help people lose a lot of weight after a diagnosis, rather than make small lifestyle changes and manage symptoms with medication.
Exercise
More physical activity is a way to improve diabetes, but it may be tough to lose enough weight to go into remission with workouts alone. When combined with changes to your eating, though, exercise helps. A modest, lower-calorie diet plus a big step up in burning calories could put you on the path to remission.
A study that had people aim for 10,000 steps a day and at least 2 1/2 hours of moderate exercise a week -- along with cutting 500-750 calories a day and following a specific insulin and medication routine -- saw more than half of them reach near-normal blood sugar without medication. Some were able to keep those levels long-term, too.
The bottom line: It's the weight loss that really matters. Exercise can help you get there, but expect to change your diet as well.
Bariatric Surgery
This type of surgery helps you lose weight by changing your stomach and digestive system to limit how much you can eat. Aside from helping you lose weight, it may help reverse diabetes in other ways, although scientists don't yet know exactly why. One theory is that it affects the hormones in your gut to help your body control blood glucose.
Researchers estimate that upwards of three-quarters of people see their diabetes reversed after bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (also called sleeve gastrectomy) surgery have better long-term results than gastric banding.
Bariatric surgery is generallyan option when your BMI is at least 35 if you have a weight-related health problem such as diabetes. It works best for people who've had the disease for 5 years or less and don't use insulin.
If you're obese and recently diagnosed, it's something to talk about with your doctor. Because it's surgery, there are serious risks. But most people who have it done end up reversing their diabetes.
Fasting
Fasting can be a practical way to lose weight because it's fairly straightforward, but it's not a mainstream treatment for type 2 diabetes.
A very small study found therapeutic fasting -- going without food and drink with calories for a set amount of time -- can help reverse type 2 diabetes. Three people with diabetes followed a diet program of three 24-hour fasts each week for several months. They would eat only dinner on days they fasted, and lunch and dinner on days they didn't fast, focusing on low-carbohydrate meals.
Two of the people in the study were able to stop taking all diabetes medication, and the third stopped three of their four medications. Within 1-3 weeks, all three of them could stop taking insulin. They lost between 10% and 18% of their body weight, or 20-23 pounds.
Another study showed that eating very few calories (500-600) 2 days a week and a normal diet the other days helped people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower their blood sugar levels just as much as limiting calories to 1,200-1,500 every day.
Though research continues, several studies show promise of intermittent fasting and several health benefits. Studies of intermittent fasting in humans with chronic disease have resulted in better control of their disease. However, these studies are done only over a period of months. It’s unclear if the benefits would remain for years if the diet is continued throughout life.
If you want to try fasting, you should work with your doctor so you get the right information and support to do it safely.
Is There a Diabetes Cure?
Is there a natural therapy that can cure diabetes?
No. Natural therapies such as deep abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress. And emotional stress affects your blood sugar levels. So learning to relax is important in managing your diabetes.
Supplements don't cure diabetes, either. Some natural supplements may interact dangerously with your diabetes medication. Others have been shown to help improve your diabetes, but always check with your doctor before taking any supplement.
Be skeptical about claims of a diabetes cure. A genuine cure will have been tested repeatedly in clinical trials with clear success.
Are stem cells a possible cure for diabetes?
They hold promise, but stem cell transplants are not yet a treatment for diabetes.
Stem cells are cells that can develop into other types of cells. Scientists have had some success with stem cells in type 1 diabetes.
Is islet cell transplantation a cure for diabetes?
A successful islet cell transplant can improve the quality of life for a person with diabetes. It's an evolving technology that's still being researched.
Islet cells sense blood sugar levels and make insulin. The cells come from a donor.
Once transplanted successfully, the donor cells begin to make and release insulin in response to blood sugar levels. This procedure can provide more flexibility with meal planning and help protect against serious long-term diabetes complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve and eye damage.
The person receiving the transplant must take medicine for the rest of their life to prevent their body from rejecting the donor's cells.
Is pancreas transplantation a cure for diabetes?
Getting a transplanted pancreas is a possibility for some people with type 1 diabetes. It's usually done in those who also have end-stage kidney (renal) disease.
A pancreatic transplant would help restore blood sugar control. Like anyone else who gets a transplant, the patient would need to take medicine for the rest of their life to help their body accept their new pancreas.
What Doesn't Work
When it comes to reversing diabetes, there's no magic pill. If you see a product that claims to cure diabetes or replace your prescribed diabetes medication, beware. The FDA cautions that many illegally marketed things are unproven and possibly dangerous, including:
- Dietary supplements
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Alternative medicines
- Homeopathic products
- Prescription drugs
They found some products that claimed to be "all natural" had prescription drugs that weren't listed as ingredients. Those could change the way other medications you're taking work or cause you to take too much of a drug without realizing it.
