Weight Loss Can Result in Reversing Diabetes

dextersgramps

since January I`ve lost almost 30 pounds at that point I was taking 2 metformin a day.As I started to see weight loss I was also seeing my sugar levels drop.I ended up on 1pill than 1/2 and last week my doctor said I don't need to take any and checking my numbers they are normal 4.8-5.2 but this doesn`t mean I`m not diabetic.Once a diabetic your always diabetic but it will help to avoid the complications that come with it.MFP has helped to lose the weight and make better choices.Keep up the good work and keep monitoring your sugar levels

bobbinalong

My hat is off to you, congratulations! DM can be nasty stuff if not properly taken care of and you just took care of DM!!! Terrific!

MeRoHa

Congratulations! I am hoping to reduce my risk of developing Diabetes by getting to a healthy weight.

Debbe2

Congratulations!

highervibes

Awesome!!!

MuseofSong

Congratulations on your inspiring success!

What did you do to lose weight?

Do you feel that dietary choices/restrictions had any effect on your outcome, or merely maintaining a caloric deficit and losing weight?

Yes, that's my question, too. Congratulations on getting off meds and getting your A1C to normal levels.

But, I would also like to know if you did it with just a calorie deficit with weight loss over time or if you went on one of those ultra restricted carbs, all fat and protein diets?

JUDDDing

Congratulations!

Job well done!

mandipoooooh

Of course the doctors and medical professionals are going to say that you can NOT reverse diabetes. They don't want you to. Seriously. Look at the number of people that have diabetes just in the USA. Think of how much money is spent on supplies and prescriptions. Think of how much money the doctors, companies that make the medication, meters etc and the pharmacies themselves will lose if everyone got smart and active to reverse this disease. Any smart idiot (Yes, I know that is an oxy moron, but it fits in this case) with half a brain can figure out what would happen if the truth is spread about it.

teamAmelia

Great. I'm glad that you're doing better.

lacroyx

I have taken insulin injections for Diabetes for over thirty years, along with oral medication. When I decided to us MyFitnessPal about seven months ago, I did not expect the results of lowering my body weight. Net result? After reaching my primary target weight of 205 lbs, my A1C3 has dropped to 5.4, and my doctor has instructed my to stop insulin injections AND oral Diabetes meds. I am now pre-diabetic! I have a new target weight of 195 lbs and hope to lower my high blood pressure and eliminate the need for those meds. I encourage you to "stay the course" with your weight loss diet and an exercise program; you can do it! So, JUST DO IT! My best wishes for your ultimate success!

Congrats!

I've been hearing people say this. But any time i ask a healthcare professional if diabetes is reversable, they look at me like i'm a moron and give me a very confident NO!

I have a lot of loved ones with diabetes. Unfortunately, even if this is true, i don't think it would motivate them to eat/exercise enough.

Just hoping this is for real and not another ridiculous troll, cause this one would be a little like a punch in the nuts

It depends on which type of diabetes it is. Type 2 is reversible. Type 1, not always.

It also depends on how long one has had it for and many, many other factors. I was fortunate to not have it for very long when I was diagnosed. I've been diabetes and med free for over 2 years now! Yes, I know I can get it if I were to go back to my old ways.

hookilau

Of course the doctors and medical professionals are going to say that you can NOT reverse diabetes. They don't want you to. Seriously. Look at the number of people that have diabetes just in the USA. Think of how much money is spent on supplies and prescriptions. Think of how much money the doctors, companies that make the medication, meters etc and the pharmacies themselves will lose if everyone got smart and active to reverse this disease. Any smart idiot (Yes, I know that is an oxy moron, but it fits in this case) with half a brain can figure out what would happen if the truth is spread about it.

:blushing: Ohhh if it were only that easy :flowerforyou:

KNShaikh

Great Success Story on diabetes reversal. I am also trying to reverse mine...hope myfitnesspal would help

Kyllosis

Congrats! That's a huge achievement by anyone's standards.

Patriots96

Please know he is only talking about Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is NOT reversible, no matter how healthy you get. I should know. I am a Type 1, have been for 19 years. I have gotten my weight down and exercised but NEVER came off of insulin. I never will, unless I get a new pancreas. Type 2's are different from Type 1's and their body has different issues, so they can lose weight and control their diabetes with diet. Type 1's can decrease insulin needs and get healthier by losing weight but will never get rid of it. I want to make sure people understand that, so there is no false hope being given here. That being said, I am losing weight, and have decreased my insulin needs, my A1C is better, and I am healthier. I depend on my insulin pump to keep me alive though. Take it away for a few hours and I will go into ketoacidosis b/c my body does not make insulin. Just wanted to clarify some things being said on here. carry on..

Adventure9

I think the OP, **** Cobb is a real person and sounds like he is an inspirational one at that. Found this about a successful Pick-up Litter volunteer organization he runs: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adopt-YOUR-Block-Be-a-Litter-Gitter-Huntington-WV/150391718348761

Question: Regarding whether or not diet, exercise and weight loss cures Type II diabetes, are we really talking semantics here? It would seem that at some point, all our bodies would break down if we feed it the wrong foods, too many foods and not enough exercise. It just happens at different points with different people, and different systems break down first. In some, the ability to deal with glucose breaks down first. So, as far as lifestyle issues are concerned, isn't it a fact that none of us are ever cured of the ability to totally withstand long term abuses? So, therefore when someone says they are cured of Diabetes, we know what they mean. They are now operating in a zone of body weight, food intake and exercise where their personal machine operates in a healthy range. To me, this would be a cure. Thoughts?

lisasays

congrats! so happy for you

dfair1967

I've been hearing people say this. But any time i ask a healthcare professional if diabetes is reversable, they look at me like i'm a moron and give me a very confident NO!

I have a lot of loved ones with diabetes. Unfortunately, even if this is true, i don't think it would motivate them to eat/exercise enough.

Just hoping this is for real and not another ridiculous troll, cause this one would be a little like a punch in the nuts

Yes it can I am a pure example of that. I was on diabetes medicine and cholesterol meds through exercise and better food choices I am on no longer on those meds anymore. I hope to stay that way if possible.

_Resolve_

yes type 2 can be reversed and stopped, i did it.

Congrats to the OP.

haju2

I'm happy for ya.

errorist

Here's the Newcastle University page on their diabetes study. It seems they are only confident about the 'reversal' for people who've been diagnosed with type 2 for four years or less.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal.htm

stealthq

....

Question: Regarding whether or not diet, exercise and weight loss cures Type II diabetes, are we really talking semantics here? It would seem that at some point, all our bodies would break down if we feed it the wrong foods, too many foods and not enough exercise. It just happens at different points with different people, and different systems break down first. In some, the ability to deal with glucose breaks down first. So, as far as lifestyle issues are concerned, isn't it a fact that none of us are ever cured of the ability to totally withstand long term abuses? So, therefore when someone says they are cured of Diabetes, we know what they mean. They are now operating in a zone of body weight, food intake and exercise where their personal machine operates in a healthy range. To me, this would be a cure. Thoughts?

No. It's not semantics.

There are plenty of people who've had a diet of mainly carbs, gotten morbidly obese, and never became diabetic or pre-diabetic. If you have Type II diabetes, you need to be watchful with your diet forever. Once you have the symptoms controlled, you can be more liberal in your choices, maybe even to the point of eating 'normally', but you still need to be aware that poor choices will set off the diabetes again. It's waiting to rear its ugly head.

If you were 'cured', you'd be able to eat all the carbs, gain weight, etc and have no worries. Not about diabetes, anyway.

Ask a cancer patient sometime whether the difference between 'in remission' and 'cured' is just semantics.

DiabetesCooking

To the OP.


thank you for an inspirational post.

DiabetesCooking

I've been hearing people say this. But any time i ask a healthcare professional if diabetes is reversable, they look at me like i'm a moron and give me a very confident NO!

I have a lot of loved ones with diabetes. Unfortunately, even if this is true, i don't think it would motivate them to eat/exercise enough.

Just hoping this is for real and not another ridiculous troll, cause this one would be a little like a punch in the nuts

It depends on which type of diabetes it is. Type 2 is reversible. Type 1, not always.

Not reversible, manageable.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585

Complications can be reversible as the damage may not be permanent, or able to be reversed to a degree. However, the condition is not. I wish it weren't so, but it is.

I too am looking into managing (not curing) my T2 Diabetes and the article does have some interesting information.
All my life I have been medicine "unfriendly" as I believe most of the treatments out there are aligned towards the Pharmaceutical Industry and the ability to fill their coffers.

Any non-conventional thinking is always a bonus in my eyes.

_Resolve_

Great to hear! Just to echo what some have already said, Diabetes has no cure right now, but it can be managed. I was taken off my medications in April with a "below normal" A1C, the few times that I have had something sweet since then I still get headaches and feel terrible the next few days following. Just keep an eye on the nutrition and again.. congrats!!!

JUDDDing

Please read this.

If you have type II diabetes - it's worth the 20 minutes of your life you'll spend reading it.

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/4/1047.full

RenshiG

I've been hearing people say this. But any time i ask a healthcare professional if diabetes is reversable, they look at me like i'm a moron and give me a very confident NO!

I have a lot of loved ones with diabetes. Unfortunately, even if this is true, i don't think it would motivate them to eat/exercise enough.

Just hoping this is for real and not another ridiculous troll, cause this one would be a little like a punch in the nuts

The neighbor of my parents has a very VERY similar story. She actually had complications / nerve damage from diabetis. Started riding her bike and adjusting her diet and is now much happier and healthier. It took a while esp since she had to be slow and diligent about her dietary modifications given her condition but about 1 1/2 years later: Totally off of her meds. (she was also in her late 60s.... so not a time you are going to break any speed records with transforming your body!)

kowajenn

OP, Congratulations! That's just wonderful and an important reminder that dieting is about health, not looks. I'm happy for you.

I know it isn't the same thing, but I inherited a 17 year old cat with uncontrolled diabetes. I really thought he would die within a few weeks of getting him. He was on insulin for about 6 months, but because we changed his diet as well he needed less and less until he was off completely. He's not cured, but as long as we maintain his low carb diet there is no reason to think that he'll go back to his diabetic state. A good diet is essential for everyone.

RebeccaJ0405

Great job, OP. Thanks for sharing your good news and success!

JUDDDing

If you were 'cured', you'd be able to eat all the carbs, gain weight, etc and have no worries.

In my opinion, this is a ridiculous line.

Using this line, anyone who is determined to be genetically susceptible to diabetes would be considered diabetic even without any observable symptoms. Which is not anyone's standard.

Similarly, anyone who has ever been obese would now be considered obese forever? Since they would predictably become obese again as soon as they "eat all the carbs, gain weight, etc".

Or if you drink way too much and get a fatty liver that would be incurable too (apparently)? Since even if you quit drinking, your liver repairs itself and everything goes back to normal - You'd still have "alcoholic fatty liver disease" because if you started drinking heavily again you'd be right back to where you started.

etc

etc

etc.

If semantics (yes, semantics) are going to be argued - the lines need to be drawn in a way that makes sense.

lucan07

Type 1 tends to be irreversible without transplant surgery, but I got steroid induced Type 2 when taking high dose steroids and being inactive whilst recovering from surgery, I also managed to reverse the diabetes by changing diet and dropping weight!