From Pills to Power: Conquering Diabetes Naturally!
Can Diabetes curable?
It is understandable that science has not yet discovered a permanent cure for diabetes. While there is no sure cure, especially for type 1 diabetes, there is good news for people with type 2 diabetes. Through lifestyle changes and emerging medical procedures, it is possible to significantly improve blood sugar control – sometimes to the point that medication is no longer needed.
Is it possible to manage diabetes without medication?
Yes – especially for people with type 2 diabetes. Many people worry about the long-term effects of living with a chronic disease, the side effects of medications and potential health complications. The encouraging reality is that weight loss, a balanced diet and an active lifestyle can help bring your blood sugar levels back into a healthy range. When this happens, many individuals stop taking diabetes medications and maintain good metabolic health.
But why don’t we call it a “cure”?
Because the condition can come back. That’s why healthcare professionals use the term diabetes remission instead of cure. Remission means your blood sugar level is in the normal range without the need for medication, but ongoing care is still important. The risk of the disease relapsing remains — especially if old habits return. The key to staying in remission is consistency: maintain a healthy weight, eat a nutritious diet and stay active. In other words, continue the same healthy habits that helped you get into remission the first time.
What is diabetes remission?
Diabetes remission means that your blood sugar levels are in the normal range without the need for diabetes medication. In other words, your body maintains healthy glucose levels on its own.
Experts define remission more precisely using your HbA1c — a measure of your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. According to international guidelines:
Diabetes is considered to be in remission when your HbA1c remains below 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) for at least six months without the use of diabetes medication.
What does “reversing type 2 diabetes” mean?
You may hear terms such as reversing type 2 diabetes, bringing diabetes into remission, or even curing diabetes without medication. Although they sound different, they all refer to the same thing: achieving and maintaining normal blood sugar levels (HbA1c less than 48 mmol/mol or 6.5%) without medication.
Biochemically, your blood sugar is now in the same range as someone who doesn’t have diabetes. But because the condition can relapse, health care professionals prefer the term remission rather than “cure.”
Treating Type 2 Diabetes Without Medication
You can reduce your diabetes and achieve normal glucose levels without medication. Remission from diabetes is easy if you take action soon after diagnosis. Lifestyle changes can help you keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range. You can treat type 2 diabetes without medication by focusing on:
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Losing weight to get a BMI in the healthy range
- Living an active lifestyle
- Monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly
Weight loss and freedom from type 2 diabetes
According to UK government figures, around 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. The more you weigh – especially if you suffer from severe obesity – the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Carrying excess weight around your belly is particularly risky. This type of fat can accumulate around vital organs such as the liver and pancreas, interfering with the way they function and significantly increasing your risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
The encouraging news? Losing around 15kg (about 2 stone 5 pounds) and maintaining that weight loss can help bring your blood sugar back to normal levels, reduce your risk of long-term diabetes complications, and even increase your life expectancy.
If you’re considering weight loss as a route to freedom from diabetes, it’s important to talk to your GP or diabetes care team. As your body adjusts – especially if you’re taking medication – your treatment plan may need to be adapted to avoid low blood sugar (hypos). Also, rapid or significant weight loss isn’t suitable for everyone, especially if you:
- are already at a healthy weight
- are under the age of 18
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- have or are recovering from an eating disorder
- Type 2 diabetes and diet
Research shows that many people have reduced their type 2 diabetes through weight loss by following different dietary approaches. These include:
The Mediterranean Diet
This diet is not about piles of pasta and pizza. Instead, it focuses on fresh seasonal produce, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and healthy fats. It can help you achieve a healthy weight and decrease your risk of getting heart disease, depression and dementia.
Choose:
- Poultry, fish, seafood and eggs
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Legumes, nuts and seeds
- Healthy fats, such as olive oil or avocado
- Herbs and spices
- Dairy produce in moderation only, preferably choosing cultured milk products like kefir, yoghurt or ricotta
- A little wine, in moderation
Cut down on:
- Processed food
- Only have red meat a few times a month
- Salt
- Saturated fats from butter and cheese
- Refined carbs like white bread and pasta, choose wholegrains if possible
Low and very low-calorie diets (VLCDs) and remission from type 2 diabetes
Research shows that low- and very low-calorie diets – typically between 800 and 1,200 calories per day – can help achieve significant weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes. Several specific dietary approaches have shown promising results:
The Newcastle diet
This is a medically supervised very-low-calorie diet (around 600 calories a day) made up of meal replacement shakes and non-starchy vegetables.
In a study led by Newcastle University and funded by Diabetes UK, 11 participants with type 2 diabetes followed this strict eating plan for eight weeks.
The results: after just three months, seven of the 11 participants achieved remission from diabetes.
The 8-week blood sugar diet
This diet is based on 800 calories per day for eight weeks and is built around a low-carb, Mediterranean-style way of eating.
It builds on the success of the Newcastle Diet, and offers greater flexibility and food choices, making it easier to follow for some people.
Low-carbohydrate diets
Low-carbohydrate diets — such as the Atkins diet — work by reducing your intake of carbohydrates, which encourages your body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose.
These diets eliminate or severely limit the following foods:
- Sugar
- Bread and pasta
- Grains
- Starchy vegetables
- High-sugar fruits
- Instead, the focus is on:
- Meat, fish and eggs
- Leafy greens and salads
- Full-fat dairy products
- Healthy fats and oils
What to expect:
The first two weeks of a low-carbohydrate diet can be challenging. You may lose weight rapidly as your body loses water and glycogen stores, but you may also have symptoms such as fatigue, weakness and irritability — commonly referred to as the “carb flu.” After getting through this initial phase, many people report increased energy, less hunger and more stable blood sugar levels.
Research has linked low-carb diets to a 32% increase in remission of type 2 diabetes.
Exercise for type 2 diabetes
Exercise can improve your fitness, support weight loss and help your body use insulin more effectively. When you’re exercising, your body is more sensitive to the insulin you produce. Regular exercise can help you live well with diabetes and put your diabetes into remission.
Try to introduce more activity into your life. You don’t have to don lycra and pay for expensive gyms; walking, swimming, cycling or dancing can all be important parts of living an active life.
Monitoring your blood glucose
Careful glucose monitoring is a vital part of controlling your diabetes. It can help you see the way your food, drink and activity affect your sugar levels. If you recognise patterns, you can improve your blood glucose levels, maintain your health and reduce your risk of developing diabetes complications.
Your diabetes team should give you a target HbA1c and support you to achieve that goal. If your HbA1c remains below 48mmol/mol or 6.5% for six months without medication, your diabetes is in remission.
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