Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is usually thought of as a long-lasting condition. It has typically been treated with a healthy diet, regular physical activity or exercise, and a variety of medicines, including insulin. However, discoveries over the last ten years have led scientists to wonder if T2D can be put into a remission.
First, when scientists examined statistics from different groups of people, they noticed that some people with T2D would spontaneously go into remission.
Second, a well-done research study showed that people who normalized their glucose levels with regular insulin shots had a higher chance of experiencing diabetes remission than people who took pills. The scientists wondered if the insulin was giving the pancreas (the organ that makes insulin) a break, so it doesn’t have to work as hard to deal with high blood sugar levels.
Third, scientists noticed that overweight or obese people with T2D who had bariatric surgery to help them lose weight– now called metabolic surgery – could sometimes stop their diabetes drugs and even experience a remission. In practical terms, this meant their A1C levels (a 3-month average of blood sugar) went back to the normal range. This made scientists wonder if nonsurgical approaches would work, since surgery was clearly not the best option for most people with T2D.
Since then, scientists have discovered that very low-calorie diets can often lead to remission. If they can stick with it, 40-50% of people who do this can achieve a remission. At the same time, scientists are exploring combinations of medicines, like incretins (like GLP1-RA) and insulin, to help achieve remission. We are still learning a lot about diabetes remission, and more research will show us the best ways to help people with T2D have a chance to make their diabetes disappear.
Check out our evidence-based takes (EBTs) on the history of diabetes remission and evidence-based approaches to diabetes remission.
About the author
Diana Sherifali
Diana is a nursing professor at McMaster University and has presented and led many educational, advocacy and research initiatives in Canada and globally. Her research focuses on the development and evaluation of self-management strategies to support people living with or impacted by diabetes.