Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a condition that is long considered as an incurable chronic disease. It is a condition that leaves a patient with too much sugar in the blood.
A 2017 estimate says there are 451 million (age 18–99 years) people with diabetes worldwide .
The report says these figures would increase to 693 million by 2045. Unfortunately, this will only change if people are willing to do what it takes to keep diabetes away.
According to the estimate, almost half of all people (49.7%) living with diabetes are undiagnosed (1).
For instance, in the United States, there are an estimated 30.3 million adults living with diabetes, and its prevalence has been rising rapidly, with at least 1.5 million new diabetes cases diagnosed each year.
This figure requires that everyone should be aware of possibilities of reversal of type-2 diabetes.
Sadly, recent advances in both pharmaceutical and technologic treatment options has not been able to stop the number of persons with diabetes from rising.
But we have seen hope for persons that are diabetic and that is the reason for this article.
In Nigeria, a man we know so well had type-2 diabetes, but did something unique to reverse it.
When he got diagnosed, it was not a thing of so much concern to him. He did his research and also followed doctor’s recommendations.
In no time, his type-2 diabetes status became history. He had a great life and lived to be 81 years.
Are There Researches That Back Reversal Of Type-2 Diabetes?
His case made it clear that you could could reverse diabetes, but we will go beyond his case to identify the chances and possibilities.
Are there research studies that back this possibility of reversing type-2 diabetes?
Interestingly, a study says evidences exist that that T2D reversal is achievable using different methods of treatment (1).
We will go further to identify these methods.
Also, we will share what our persona above did to reverse diabetes and you can share it with anyone you know that is living with this health condition.
There are three different methods of reversal studies promote.
An individual with type-2 diabetes could adopt for one or a combination of two to reverse type-2 diabetes.
Most of the methods in the study play up the role of weight in diabetic condition.
Method 1: Bariatric Surgery
This form of surgery is a procedure performed on people who are obese. Most times, the focus is to alter gut hormone levels that are responsible for hunger and satiety.
Basically, in the United States, the most commonly performed bariatric surgeries are laparoscopic and robotic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) or Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG).
According to studies, evidence suggests that bariatric surgery dramatically and rapidly improves blood glucose. It makes room for decreased oral hypoglycemic medications and insulin use, effectively reversing diabetes in up to 80% of patients in the short term (2).
Furthermore, glycemic improvements occur rapidly, often within hours to days, and precede weight loss, which likely represents the enteroendocrine responses to altered flow of intestinal contents (i.e., bile acid signaling and changes in microbiota and their metabolome).
Method 2: Low-calorie Diets (LCD)
Interestingly, this is one of the very adjustments that our persona above adopted to reverse type-2 diabetes.
It really does not involve so much, but lifestyle changes. Sadly, people find it hard to just adjust – throw some foods they love away and pick up new ones.
The truth is that if you want to reverse blood sugar level the is high, you have to pick a new meal plan.
Indeed, this method is not new at all.
According to a study, in 1976, a study found that a very low-calorie protein-sparing modified fast allowed for insulin elimination in all 7 obese patients with T2D.
The study says the average time to insulin discontinuation was only 6.5 days, and the longest was 19 days.
“A low-calorie diet of 900 kcal, including 115grams of protein, led to significant improvement in glycemic control that was mainly attributed to improvements in insulin sensitivity (3).
Here, all a diabetic patient needs to do is to ensure that he or she lowers the amount of calories intake per day.
He or she needs to check the caloric content of every food item. Another thing is to ensure that he or she stays within limit.
There are different studies that back this method.
Although there are issues with the patients sustaining the modification of diet and lifestyle.
Our persona above, at the time, ate most of his foods with vegetables. No fries, small amount of oil in food and no sweetened drinks. This low calories diet gradually became a lifestyle for him.
As a balance for this method, there is need for increase in physical activity level.
According to an earlier cited study, patients who engaged in exercise got faster reversal result.
Method 3: Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet (LC)
Here, the focus is on reducing the amount of carbohydrate that the patient gets. Foods that are high in carbohydrate raise blood sugar level.
This low carbohydrate diet was the most frequently prescribed treatment for diabetes before now.
It is gradually returning as a method of reversing the condition.
New evidence on the efficacy of this method has birthed its endorsement as eating pattern by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
It emphasises diets that are based on macronutrient changes rather than a focus on calorie restriction.
On what the amount of carbohydrate should be for a diabetic patient, there are different views.
However, a low-carbohydrate diet usually restricts total carbohydrates to less than 130 grams per day.
On the other hand, a very low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet usually restricts total carbohydrates to as low as 20–30 grams per day (4).
“Protein consumption is generally unchanged from a standard ADA diet (around 20% of intake), with the remaining energy needs met by fat from either the diet or mobilised body fat stores.”
Also Read: Okra For Diabetics: How To Use | Great Positive Result
Also, under this diet, carbohydrate sources are primarily non-starchy vegetables with some nuts, dairy, and limited fruit.
According to a study, a low carbohydrate diet yielded a more effective result than a low glycemic diet in T2D.
The study says 95% of participants in the low-carbohydrate arm reduced or eliminated glycemic control medications, compared to 62% in the low glycemic index arm at 24 weeks.
Bottom Line
Furthermore, the evidences are supporting lifestyle modification and adjustments in reversal of diabetes.
While diabetes has no cure, a patient can keep blood sugar level low for as long as possible.
Combining a low carb diet and low-calories diet gave our persona a lifetime result.
Since being overweight actually increases an individual’s risk of diabetes, it is important to keep weight in check.
One thing that works is a holistic lifestyle – physical activity level and a better consideration of the kind of food you feed your body.
However, bear in mind that the chances of the condition returning is also high.
This happens when the individual draws back on the new lifestyle that keeps the sugar level low.