Can type 2 diabetes be cured?
Type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively use insulin, can be managed and potentially reversed through a combination of healthy lifestyle practices. Here's what you need to know.
Type 2 diabetes and its counterpart, Type 1 diabetes, differ in their origins. While Type 1 diabetes is marked by the body's halt in insulin production, Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the body producing insulin but failing to use it effectively.
Doctors use the A1C test to diagnose and monitor the progress of Type 2 diabetes. Remission of Type 2 diabetes is achieved when a person's A1C level, which reflects average blood sugar for the past 2-3 months, is less than 6.5%.
Losing 5-7% of weight can delay or prevent a person from developing Type 2 diabetes. Excess belly fat, rather than excess body weight alone, is linked to Type 2 diabetes.
Exercise plays a crucial role in managing Type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose levels and improves the sensitivity of insulin. Moderate exercise, such as a 15-minute walk after meals, is particularly effective. Exercising after meals provides stronger benefits for blood sugar control and fat metabolism than exercising before meals.
Effective strategies for reversing Type 2 diabetes include the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet and regular moderate exercise. The 5:2 diet involves eating normally five days a week but significantly reducing calorie intake on two non-consecutive days. This diet has been shown to improve blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, triglyceride levels, and promote better adherence compared to other diets.
A low-carb, high-protein diet focusing on whole foods—such as lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains—is also beneficial for reversing insulin resistance and managing diabetes.
In addition to diet and exercise, people with Type 2 diabetes should also abstain from smoking, monitor their blood pressure, manage stress, and seek support from others to live well with the condition.
Prevention is key when it comes to Type 2 diabetes. To prevent Type 2 diabetes, it is recommended to maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and eat nutritious foods most of the time. Following the dietary advice for people with diabetes, such as choosing nutritious foods and eating high fiber foods, can also help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
It's important to note that there is no known prevention for Type 1 diabetes. However, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with these healthy lifestyle changes.
Type 2 diabetes affects 463 million adults worldwide, resulting in 4.2 million deaths in 2019. With the right lifestyle choices, this number can be reduced significantly.
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6066842/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4563708/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6320541/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326578/
- Type 1 diabetes, unlike Type 2 diabetes, is characterized by the body's halt in insulin production.
- Doctors often use the term 'treaters' for medical professionals who manage diabetes, including Type 2 diabetes.
- Weightloss, particularly losing 5-7% of weight, can delay or prevent a person from developing Type 2 diabetes.
- Belly fat is linked to Type 2 diabetes, more so than excess body weight in general.
- Exercise, such as taking a 15-minute walk after meals, improves blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity in Type 2 diabetes patients.
- Effective strategies for reversing Type 2 diabetes include methods like the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet and regular moderate exercise.
- A low-carb, high-protein diet focusing on whole foods can help reverse insulin resistance and manage Type 2 diabetes.
- Beyond diet and exercise, people with Type 2 diabetes need to quit smoking, manage stress, monitor their blood pressure, and seek mental health support to effectively live with the condition.
- Prevention of Type 2 diabetes involves maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular exercise, and eating nutritious foods most of the time, following the dietary advice for people with diabetes can also aid in prevention.
