Can you reverse Type 2 diabetes? An honest UK guide
You'll see "reverse your diabetes" all over the internet, often next to a programme that costs a fortune and promises results in 30 days. So I want to be straight with you about what's real.
Some people with Type 2 can get their blood sugar back to normal without any diabetes medication. Doctors call that remission, and it's been shown in proper UK research. But it doesn't happen for everyone, it takes real work, and it can come back. Anyone who promises you a cure is selling something.
Reverse or remission?
"Reverse" is the word people search for. "Remission" is the word your doctor will use, and it's more honest.
You're in remission when your HbA1c stays under 48 for at least three months without diabetes tablets or insulin. The diabetes hasn't gone away for good. It's quiet, and it can come back if things change. I go into the detail, including the NHS programme, in Type 2 remission: what it really takes.
Has anyone actually reversed Type 2?
Yes, thousands of people in the UK. A big study called DiRECT found that almost half the people on a supported low-calorie programme were in remission after a year. The NHS now runs its own version in England, called Path to Remission, and your GP can tell you if you're eligible.
The single biggest factor in the research was weight loss. The more weight people lost and kept off, the more likely they were to reach remission.
What if I'm not overweight?
This is a question I see a lot, and it's a good one. Type 2 isn't only a condition of people who are very overweight.
A UK study called ReTUNE looked at people with Type 2 who were a healthy weight or only a little over. Many of them reached remission after losing around 10% of their body weight. The idea is that some people's bodies simply can't cope with the fat they carry around their organs, even if they look slim.
So if you're not overweight, remission may still be possible. Talk to your GP before you try to lose weight, especially if you're already slim.
What if I was diagnosed 10 years ago?
It's harder the longer you've had Type 2. Over time the body gets less able to make its own insulin, and that's hard to get back. Most people who reach remission were diagnosed in the last few years.
But harder isn't the same as pointless. Even if remission isn't on the cards for you, bringing your HbA1c down lowers your risk of problems with your eyes, feet, kidneys and heart. That's worth doing whatever happens. There's help with that in How to lower your HbA1c.
What diet reverses Type 2?
The best evidence is for a low-calorie programme with shakes and soups for a few months, like the NHS one. Some people have also done well with lower-carb eating. Both can work.
The honest answer is that the best plan is one you can keep up. A diet you stick to for three weeks and then abandon won't get you there.
Before you start anything big, speak to your GP or diabetes team, especially if you take tablets or insulin. Some medication needs to be reduced when you cut back on food, or your sugar can drop too low.
Keeping it
This is the bit nobody puts in the adverts. In the DiRECT study, some people were still in remission five years later, but many saw their diabetes come back, usually when the weight crept back on.
Keeping it is about the long haul: the birthdays, the bad weeks at work, the dark evenings in January. It's much easier with people around you who get it. I've listed the options in Type 2 support in the UK.
Where I can help
I can't promise anyone remission, and I won't. What I can do is support you while you work on it, including the bad days that knock most people off track.
That's what SODIT is for: 12 weeks of coaching with me, then a year of support. If you'd rather start small, get my free Type 2 guide. And if you're newly diagnosed, begin with Just diagnosed with Type 2? What to do first.
Want someone in your corner?
SODIT is 12 weeks of coaching with me, daily support on WhatsApp, then a full year in a support group with people who get it. It starts as soon as you join. £997.
Not ready yet? Start with my free guide.
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Questions people ask
Can you reverse Type 2 diabetes if you're not overweight?
Sometimes, yes. A UK study called ReTUNE found that many people with Type 2 at a healthy weight reached remission after losing around 10% of their body weight. Speak to your GP before trying to lose weight if you're already slim.
Can you reverse Type 2 diabetes after 10 years?
It's harder the longer you've had it, and most people who reach remission were diagnosed more recently. But bringing your numbers down still lowers your risk of complications, so it's always worth doing.
How long does Type 2 remission last?
Some people stay in remission for years. For others it comes back, usually when weight they lost comes back. Keeping your habits going and having support makes a big difference.
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Auriel isn't a doctor or a lawyer. This is general information from her own experience and UK guidance. Always follow your GP and diabetes team.