For some, yes, diabetes reversal is possible. For others, no.

What does Diabetes Reversal Mean?

First let me explain diabetes reversal. Diabetes reversal is a situation where an individual has returned to a pre-diabetes state with normal blood sugar, normal labs, and normal function of the pancreas without the need for insulin or other medications.  Recent studies indicate that reversal is possible in most individuals within the first 10 years following a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, after which, it gradually becomes less likely due to increased damage to the internal organs of the body.[i] Another factor is how hard you work at making the changes happen. We have had former class attendees whose doctors have taken them off all diabetes medicines after having been on insulin for more than 30 years.

For the average person with diabetes, the disease has been causing damage to their body for approximately 13 years before the symptoms of diabetes appeared. In fact, by the time diabetes is diagnosed, an individual has only about 50% of their pancreas still functioning. As you reverse, your blood sugar will return to normal before your pancreatic function does. There will be a period of time after symptoms disappear while the body is continuing to heal on the inside. Stick with the lifestyle plan. We really want more than just reversal, we are really after health. The program we advocate has improved the health of hundreds of people.

What is Remission of Diabetes?

The term “diabetes reversal” has been catching some flack recently because some individuals feel like it leads people to a feeling of false security. Their fear is that some people might feel that after they reverse, they can eat whatever they want, and do whatever they want to do because they don’t have diabetes anymore. This is just not true. I like the term reversal because symptoms tend to disappear in the opposite order in which they occurred. However, some researchers are beginning to prefer the word “remission” instead of reversal because it indicates that the situation might easily recur. In this case, the old saying is true, “If you do what you did, you will get what you got.”

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

So just what is the cause of diabetes and what do I need to do to get rid of it? Although there are multiple factors which contribute to the disease of diabetes, it is ultimately caused because of too much fat that is stored in the liver and pancreas. This excess fat interferes with the way the body burns sugar for energy. Researchers have determined that losing as little as one gram of fat (about 1/4^th teaspoon) from the pancreas may be enough to cause diabetes to reverse, but significant weight loss is required to accomplish that. A recent study that was published in the online British medical journal, The Lancet, on December 5, 2017 involved 300 people. Half ate a standard diabetic diet; the other half were given an 850 calorie/day diet for eight weeks with the goal of losing weight. Then foods were slowly reintroduced over two to eight weeks with emphasis on training how to prepare healthy foods. No one in the control group met the 12-month weight loss goal of 33 pounds. But in the calorie restricted group, 24% of the group did meet the weight loss goal. A total of 46% of the people studied achieved diabetes remission. Success rates increased as people lost more weight. Among those who lost 33 or more pounds, 86% of the people were able to reverse their diabetes.[ii]

What do I need to do to Reverse Diabetes?

Although weight loss is probably the most important part of a diabetes reversal program, I believe that the best approach is to consider the whole person when selecting a reversal strategy. Not only should we identify ways to decrease the fat in the liver and pancreas and prevent further accumulation, but we need to consider increasing healing nutrients in the diet, getting the proper amount and the proper timing of exercise; we need to increase the amount of fiber in the diet, drink adequate water, have a good way to manage stress; we need to get plenty of sleep and avoid unnecessary snacking; we also need a strong support system, and an effective way to handle stress; we need to have a strong spiritual practice; and we need to regularly set realistic health goals and then work diligently to achieve them. This multi-dimensioned approach will give us our best hope for reversal.

What Can I learn from This Website?

This web site is designed to help you learn some of the basics of diabetes reversal. Take the time to study the reversal plan. Follow the links to hear what other scientists and doctors have to say about this new emerging science. Ask your doctor if he thinks that this plan is right for you. Join the many others who have improved their health by reversing their diabetes. I would like to hear your questions and comments.

[i] Newcastle University. (2017, September 13). Type 2 diabetes is a reversible condition. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 17, 2018 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170913084432.htm

[ii] Lean, Michael, et al., Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomized trial, The Lancet, Volume 0, Issue 0, 2018, published online 05 December, 2017. Online First. Accessed 01/17/2018.