Effects Of Winter On Diabetes
December 9, 2021
Insulin Sensitivity And Its Adverse Effects
December 9, 2021
A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can be quite devastating, making us desperate for a cure. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous profiteers who prey on our desperation, promising miracle cures with alternative therapies that are often downright dangerous. The truth is that there is no known cure for type 2 diabetes to date, but our knowledge of the pathogenesis of the condition has increased greatly and we are closer than ever to finding a cure.
The Current State Of Diabetes Treatment
Although there is no diabetes treatment at present that can cure the condition, researchers are making significant strides that are taking us closer to a place where diabetes will not pose such a lifelong threat that it presently does. While an actual cure may still be a long way down the road, research shows that diabetes type 2 does not have to control the rest of your life.
Some of the most interesting research suggests that people with type 2 diabetes can send the condition into remission with well-managed weight management strategies. This is also described by some as reversing diabetes. Remission of diabetes reversal refers to a condition in which blood sugar levels are restored to a healthy range. It does not mean that the condition is cured permanently, but it is the next best thing – diabetes no longer affects your life or threatens you with complications.
However, achieving remission requires strict adherence to diet and lifestyle changes, while also continuing to undergo regular healthcare checks in order to ensure that diabetes stays in remission. It is clear from the evidence that lasting diabetes ‘reversal’ only happens when dietary and lifestyle changes are consistent and sustainable.
Curing Type 2 Diabetes By Fighting Obesity
Although weight loss is not a cure for diabetes, it is known to help control the condition and can also send it into remission. Bariatric surgery, which is a form of weight loss surgery, has been found to improve the prognosis of obese patients with type 2 diabetes, helping restore normal blood sugar levels.
In a study that appeared in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers found that bariatric surgery can be extremely effective in obese diabetes patients, with 80% reporting glucose levels within the normal range just 2 years after undergoing surgery. In another study that appeared in Diabetes Care, the curative benefits of bariatric surgery were affirmed with 88% of formerly obese and diabetic patients showing no signs of diabetes 6 years after the procedure.
Of course, bariatric surgery is not a cure in itself and is only recommended for individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher, if they are unable to achieve healthy weight loss goals through diet and exercise strategies. Bariatric surgery is a major procedure that requires commitment and discipline from the patients, as well as a recognition of the risks of the procedure. It is also not a foolproof cure in itself, as a number of patients develop diabetes again if they are not able to adhere strictly to diet and lifestyle recommendations, regaining the weight that is lost from bariatric surgery.
Looking Ahead For A Type 2 Diabetes Cure
One of the most promising developments in the race to find a cure for diabetes type 2 only appeared a few months ago this year. A team of researchers in Germany discovered a ‘novel and druggable insulin inhibitory receptor’ that is called an inceptor. When this inceptor function is blocked, it improves the sensitivity of insulin signalling pathways in pancreatic beta cells. This is one of the most promising new developments, as this could allow doctors to protect and encourage regeneration of beta cells to send diabetes into possibly permanent remission.
Until we find a more effective and lasting diabetes cure, strict adherence to diabetes treatment plans, including medication, diet and lifestyle changes, remains your best bet at overcoming the condition by sending diabetes into remission. While this is not guaranteed to cure diabetes and may not always work to even send it into remission, it remains the most effective strategy to control diabetes and lower the risk of diabetes complications.
