Type 2 diabetes remission:

Diabetes remission implies that your blood sugar levels on type 2 diabetes are stable without the need for diabetes medication .

People with type 1 diabetes cannot put their diabetes into remission, but experts are working hard to figure out how and create novel treatments. With islet transplants, some people with type 1 diabetes can begin to manufacture some of their own insulin again.

Type 2 diabetes is often managed with diet, exercise, and/or medication. Diabetes is a progressive illness for many individuals, however reaching diabetes remission can have a significant positive influence on your general health and well-being, both in the short and long term.


How can diabetes be put into remission?

The majority of the information we have points to weight loss as the primary factor in putting diabetes into remission.

If you lose a significant amount of weight (at least 15 kg, or 2 stone and 5 pounds) as soon as you are diagnosed with obesity, your chances of putting your diabetes into remission increase.

If you want to start reducing weight rapidly to move towards remission, talk to a healthcare expert first to be sure it's good for you. Also, before you start reducing weight, you may need to reduce or discontinue any drugs, such as insulin or sulfonylurea.

If you are a healthy weight, under the age of 18, pregnant, nursing, or have ever been diagnosed with an eating problem, rapid weight reduction is not recommended.


Pro tip: If you want to put your diabetes in remission by decreasing weight, get counsel from your diabetes care team or a health care expert. They can assist you in doing so safely, especially if you have any underlying health issues, and boost your chances of establishing remission.


How does diabetes remission help?

Many people with type 2 diabetes carry additional weight around their stomach. This causes fat to accumulate around important organs such as the pancreas and liver, causing them to function inefficiently.

Losing weight and the fat around these organs helps them to function correctly again, which can put your diabetes into remission.

We are still learning more about remission, and we still don't completely comprehend all the contributing variables to diabetes remission. Not everyone will be able to put their diabetes into remission, but even a little weight loss of 5% can have a significant good influence on your health.

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These advantages consist of:

  • Lowering your chance of acquiring diabetic complications
  • Improved levels of blood sugar
  • Medication reduction
  • Lowering the amount of cholesterol
  • Improves your ability to sleep


Getting started

There is now substantial data supporting two treatment methods that can result in remission. Both entail shedding a lot of weight quite quickly. One option is to stick to a rigorous, low-calorie weight-loss regimen that provides around 850 calories per day. The alternative strategy is weight loss or bariatric surgery, which makes you feel fuller more quickly and so encourages you to eat less.

However, while these are the techniques supported by the most high-quality studies to put your type 2 diabetes into remission, there are alternative, more gradual options. We know that some people in remission achieved it by following a low-carb or Mediterranean diet. Everyone is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.


Different remission diets:


Limiting Carbohydrate 


Type 2 diabetes remission:

Carbohydrates are your body's primary source of energy and come in two varieties: sweet and starchy.

When you digest starchy carbs, they are broken down into sugar and enter your circulation, causing your blood glucose levels to rise. Limiting the quantity of carbohydrate in your diet, whether as sugar or starch, can improve your health and reduce the amount of glucose your body stores as fat.

This will aid in weight management and lower your chance of acquiring diabetic problems.


Low-Calorie Diet


Type 2 diabetes remission:

It is suggested that you consult with your healthcare team before beginning an LCD, especially if you are on insulin, sulphonylureas (such as gliclazide), or SGLT-2 medicine (drug names ending in gliflozin), or if you have any difficulties such as heart or renal problems.


Intermittent fasting


Type 2 diabetes remission:

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves periods of food restriction followed by normal eating.

There are two main approaches to intermittent fasting;

  • The 5:2 diet, where you eat normally for 5 days and 500 – 600 calories on the other 2 days, or
  • The 16:8 cycle which is time-restricted eating, which generally works out as only having an 8-hour window that you are allowed to eat in.

During this diet, your body is either in the ‘fed’ or ‘fasted’ state.

It is suggested that you consult with your healthcare team before beginning a fasting diet, especially if you are using insulin, sulphonylureas (such as gliclazide), or SGLT2 medication (drug names ending in gliflozin), or if you have any difficulties such as heart or renal problems.

AdviseEven if you are in remission, it is critical to continue to attend your regular check-ups as part of your diabetes treatment and to maintain your weight reduction.