Is Type 2 Diabetes Reversible?

Many people ask us if there’s a cure for diabetes, a chronic and progressive condition that affects more than 38 million Americans (about 11.6% of the population).

The answer isn’t a straightforward one, but our skilled team of health care providers at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care wants you to know that there are ways to put your diabetes in the rearview mirror. Let’s dive in.

Behind your type 2 diabetes diagnosis

Let’s first review what we’re up against when you have type 2 diabetes, which we consider to be a chronic and progressive disease.

With type 2 diabetes, the levels of glucose in your bloodstream are unregulated and higher than normal, thanks to insulin resistance and lack of insulin. In short, insulin is a hormone that’s produced by your pancreas, and its primary job is to deliver glucose to your cells, which they use as energy.

With type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to insulin, forcing your pancreas to produce more, though it’s often not enough to overcome the resistance.

As a result of type 2 diabetes, you can develop serious problems with your cardiovascular health, nerve health, and kidneys, among other complications. 

Reversing the course of your health when you have type 2 diabetes

We hesitate to say outright that type 2 diabetes is reversible for a couple of reasons. First, you may never overcome the insulin resistance that has taken hold in your body. Second, any damage done by your type 2 diabetes, such as peripheral neuropathy in your lower limbs or loss of vision, is likely irreversible.

That said, there is a good deal you can do to manage your diabetes and even put it into remission. And since type 2 diabetes leads to progressively worse health complications, the earlier you act, the better your outcome.

In fact, some people are able to walk their type 2 diabetes back to a point where they no longer need medication. To do this, you need to make some significant changes in your life, including:

• Losing weight
• Overhauling your diet to healthier foods
• Exercising more
• Monitoring your blood sugar levels very closely

The good news is that we do offer game-changing GLP-1 medications that can help with the first item on this list — weight loss. But this is only a leg up, and you’ll need to be vigilant about the rest.

An even better approach is to take action when you have prediabetes, and one in three Americans qualify for this condition. So, if your blood sugar levels are too high and you’re sitting on the precipice of a diabetes diagnosis, taking action now can help you turn that corner.

Whether you have prediabetes or a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, the important takeaway is that there’s a lot you can do to safeguard your health, and we’re happy to help you come up with the best plan.

To get the ball rolling, contact CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care in Houston or Katy, Texas, today to schedule an appointment with one of our diabetes specialists. We also offer telehealth appointments.