Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Reversed: Diabetes is a common ailment that affects millions of people across the worldIt is a kind of metabolic disorder that is characterised by elevated blood glucose levels brought on by issues with the production or use of insulin for physiological purposes. Numerous health professionals assert that diabetes may afflict anybody leading an unhealthy lifestyle, regardless of race, caste, or creed. But the major question that strikes our minds is, can type 2 diabetes be reversed?

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Rajeev Gupta, Director - Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi explained about type 2 diabetes and if it can be reversed.

According to Dr Gupta, if intensive lifestyle management is followed, ensuring more than 15% weight loss, about 80% of people can become free of antidiabetic medication and can be recorded as reversed or in remission. Such a degree of weight loss can be achieved through a hypocaloric diet, a moderate to intensive exercise program, bariatric surgery, or pharmacotherapy, often in some combination thereof. Such remarkable weight loss is attainable using injectable forms of semaglutide or tirzepatide.

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However, by the end of the second year, about 20% of individuals would regain weight and revert to the diabetes range. Whenever such a degree of weight loss is attempted, it should be understood that not only visceral fat but also muscle mass is significantly reduced.

Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Reversed (Image Credits: Canva)

To mitigate the loss of muscle in the process, one must undertake regular alternate-day resistance training and ensure adequate protein intake, for example, 1.2 grams per kilogram, and a balanced diet. Having a hypocaloric diet, which includes about 40% carbohydrates, 40% proteins, and less than 30% fats with low saturated fats and zero trans fats, and about 800 to 1200 calories, customised to the patient's needs and planned goals, is uniformly needed.

Exercises help in maintaining the achieved weight loss and mitigating sarcopenia associated with weight loss. Furthermore, there is a gradual attrition rate, so as years pass, many of these success stories revert to diabetes. Equally or rather more important is the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in at-risk individuals by using similar strategies as outlined above with more gratifying results.

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