Type 2 diabetes remission: what it really takes

Auriel WetherallLived with Type 2 diabetes for over 20 years · September 2026

Remission is the word everyone with Type 2 hopes to hear. You'll see it in the papers, on the telly and all over social media, usually next to a before-and-after photo.

I want to give you the honest version, because I think you deserve it.

What remission actually means

You're in remission when your HbA1c (your average blood sugar over two to three months) stays below 48 for at least three months, without any diabetes tablets or insulin.

It isn't a cure. The diabetes is still there in the background, and it can come back. That's why doctors call it remission and not "reversed". You still need your yearly checks, including your eye screening.

Who gets there

The best evidence comes from a big UK study called DiRECT. People followed a low-calorie diet programme with lots of support, and almost half of them were in remission after a year. The more weight people lost, the more likely remission was.

A few things make it more likely:

• being diagnosed in the last few years
• losing a good amount of weight and keeping it off
• having regular support, not just a diet sheet

People who've had Type 2 for many years can still get there, but it's harder. And it's not only for people who are very overweight. Some people at a healthy weight have reached remission by losing a smaller amount. If that's you, I've written about it in Can you reverse Type 2?

The NHS remission programme

The NHS in England runs a programme called Path to Remission. For about 12 weeks you replace your meals with soups and shakes, then you bring normal food back in slowly, with support for the rest of the year.

You need your GP to refer you, and there are rules about who can join, such as your age, your weight and how long ago you were diagnosed. If you think you might fit, ask your GP. It's free and it's backed by good evidence.

The part nobody talks about

Getting your numbers down is one thing. Keeping them there is where most people come unstuck.

Shakes and strict plans work while you're on them. Then life carries on. There's a birthday, a bad week at work or a long winter evening. The cravings come back, one cheat day turns into a cheat week, and before you know it your numbers have crept back up. Nobody tells you what to do when that happens, so you feel like you've failed and you stop trying.

In my experience, the people who keep going have two things: someone to talk to when it wobbles, and a plan for the bad days as well as the good ones. Willpower has very little to do with it.

What I'd do if I were starting now

1. Ask your GP for your HbA1c and whether you're eligible for the NHS remission programme.
2. Don't stop or change your tablets or insulin on your own. Some diabetes medication can make your sugar drop too low if you cut back on food, so your diabetes team needs to be involved.
3. Get your evenings sorted, because that's usually where it falls apart. There's help with that in How to lower your HbA1c.
4. Find your support before you need it.

Where I can help

I can't promise anyone remission, and nobody honest can. What I can do is be in your corner while you work on it.

That's what SODIT is: 12 weeks of coaching with me and a small group of people who get it, then a full year of support after that. It starts as soon as you join.

If you're not ready for that, start with my free Type 2 guide. And if you've only just been diagnosed, go back to the start: Just diagnosed with Type 2? What to do first.

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.