"curing" type II diabetes?

[dirgeinvegas]

I am looking for some info really. MIL says she had type II diabetes (DH confirms this) but she has been cured by eating only one meal a day. She says this "kick started" her pancreas and now she's fine. This was under medical supervision.

My dad has type II diabetes and I would to find something to help him but everything I've googled about curing it just seems to be dodgy websites after the money of vulnerable people.

Can it be cured? MIL can't give me any more info than I have typed above. She eats lots of sugar now e.g. Several desserts a night but I recall at our wedding three years ago she insisted on a sugar free diabetic dessert and shes started drinking big bottles of normal coke so on the face of it, she is better.

Is anyone able to explain this? Or point me to some articles please?

[mattellie]

Certain diets (carb free, paleo etc) and/or a vigorous exercise regime can, in some people, remove the need for diabetes medication in a Type II diabetic.

But just eating less won?t do the trick, it?s what you eat that matters. And no one with diabetes can eat whatever they want, not take any medication and be absolutely fine. Can?t be done.

[GrimmaTheNome]

My MIL managed without insulin for years by careful control of diet - loads of veg, plus protein, moderate amounts of fruit (with loads of cream!), virtually no bread/pots/rice/pasta. This was before anyone had heard of Atkins.

Never heard of anyone 'kick starting' their pancreas - maybe its possible in some cases. But I'll bet you if your MIL carries on with several desserts and coke, she'll re-develop her diabetes.

[dirgeinvegas]

Thanks both of you. It was only once I typed it out I considered that either she's misunderstood her doctor or she's fibbing a bit. We don't visit her often due to her living so far away. She emails a few times a day updating what she's done/eaten/who she's seen so most of her diet info comes from their and monthly visits. She tells me she isn't on medication now.

I knwl when we visit if I get up in the night she's often found eating all kinds of junk in the kitchen. How can she do that and not worsen her diabetes?

I guess that leaves my dad stuck with medication - Grimma it's amazing what your MIL has done, my dad won't change his lifestyle. He thinks it's either a life of cakes and pies or salads and fruit. No in-between. He just refuses to change.

[dirgeinvegas]

Her diet information comes from there

[Pandsbear]

My mum also manages her TYpe II with diet. Lots of veg/fish/some fruits/some carbs. Little fat/even less sugar. All advised by the doc and dietician at her GP's practice. As long as her bloods are ok she can continue without any medication.

[LilQueenie]

Had both forms of diabetes in my family. Type 2 is controlled by a careful diet. skipping meals leads to low blood sugar for everyone so cant see how that is a good thing at all!

[TotalChaos]

know someone who was told he was borderline for type 2, so the diabetes could be reversible if he really got on top of diet/weightloss. but never heard of "kick starting the pancreas"

[dirgeinvegas]

Best not to suggest my dad does the one-meal-a-day-diet. He'd probably only chose a bloody sausage roll or something.

That's a shame. I can't see how her diabetes is controlled then. It's baffled me. She isn't strict with what she eats. She's obese, eats fatty foods, nothing between breakfast at 7am and dinner at 5pm although dinner does usually include lots of vegetables.

[LilQueenie]

well my nana had type 2 and she ate healthy most of the time but would sometimes eat fatty foods. It affected her sugar but not enough to do any harm that showed. We only knew from urine tests but saying that even healthy things could push that sugar level up!