- Diabetes type 2 symptoms are mainly caused by lifestyle factors
- It is a life-long auto-immune condition that causes blood glucose levels to get too high
- Losing 15kg of weight could lead to total remission
- Regular exercise and bariatric surgery could also reverse condition
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition where your blood glucose level is too high because the body doesn’t make enough of a hormone called insulin.
Unlike type 1 diabetes which is triggered by an autoimmune reaction, lifestyle factors – such as diet and being overweight – are often the reason people are diagnosed with type 2.
However, experts earlier this month suggested that it is possible to reverse the condition.
This is defined by diabetes.co.uk as a significant long-term improvement in insulin sensitivity.
Recent research published in the British Medical Journal revealed that losing a certain amount of weight could ‘cure’ type 2 diabetes.
Sustained weight loss of around 15kg was found to lead to total remission, according to scientists at the University of Glasgow.
Shedding pounds was also associated with an extended life expectancy in people with diabetes, and those who have reversed their condition also generally feel less tired.
The researchers said many people were unaware they could reverse the disease.
Emily Burns, Head of Research Communications at Diabetes UK, said: “The ability to put type 2 diabetes into remission could be transformative for millions of people around the world, and evidence is building to suggest that it’s possible.
“In the meantime, we need to ensure that those who do achieve remission are recognised in the right way and receive the right care.
“Diabetes UK is funding crucial research to find out how to put type 2 into remission, who might benefit and whether it’s effective for the long-term.”
According to diabetes.co.uk, four key ways to reverse the condition include:
– Eating a low-carbohydrate diet
– Consuming a very low-calorie diet
– Exercising regularly
– Having bariatric surgery
It is often not recorded when type 2 diabetes sufferers reverse their condition.
The Scottish Care Information Diabetes database – which includes every patient in Scotland – showed that less than 0.1 per cent of those with the condition were coded as being in remission.
They believe this is probably because few patients are attempting or achieving remission.
“It is in everybody’s interest to reclassify people with type 2 diabetes when they become non-diabetic,” said the authors.
“Official guidelines and international consensus for recording diabetes in remission are needed.”
Not trying to reverse type 2 diabetes can lead to long-term complications, including increased risk of heart disease.
Additionally, sufferers tend to live up to six years less than people without diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes affects 3.2 million people in the UK.
The NHS currently spends an estimated £1 billion a year, or £22 million a day – on antidiabetes drugs – and costs are rising globally as diabetes rates and drug prices increase.