Ever read claims that type 2 diabetes can be ‘reversed’ and wondered if it’s true? More than five million people are believed to be living with diabetes, 90% of whom have type 2, according to Diabetes UK. While type 1 is believed to be an autoimmune disease (occurring because the body’s own immune system has destroyed the pancreas cells that create insulin – the hormone that helps keep our blood sugar/glucose levels in a normal range), type 2 diabetes happens when blood sugar levels become too high due to the body no longer producing enough insulin, or insulin no longer working properly (insulin resistance). Over time, this can lead to a range of possible complications, including nerve and blood vessel damage affecting the eyes, kidneys and feet, as well as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
But, can you really reverse type 2 diabetes? Diabetes remission Natasha Marsland, senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, says the term ‘remission’ is a more accurate way of looking at this. “Type 2 diabetes remission is when your long-term blood sugars fall below the diabetes level and stay there for at least three months, without the need for glucose-lowering medication. By bringing your blood sugars into a non-diabetes range long term, the symptoms of diabetes and any new damage it can do to your body are on pause.
“Remission doesn’t mean your diabetes has gone away forever, as your blood sugar levels can rise again – and we don’t call it ‘reversing.
