Has anyone managed to reverse type 2 diabetes from losing weight?

[Geekster1963]

DH who is 48 has just been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. He is quite overweight with a BMI of 42. We are hoping if he loses weight it might reverse it as he's only just classed as diabetic. Has anyone lost weight and their diabetes has gone?

[TheInvestigator]

That's not quite overweight. That's morbidly obese. The first step is really opening your eyes and admitting that.
I'm not bashing him for being obese. I was obese and have been losing weight since January. I moved into the overweight category in March. It's hard work but totally possible.

First though, he should see his GP before starting any crash diets or anything silly. Get some advice. But the best thing is really just calorie counting and getting more active... But mostly calorie counting. It will not be easy and he really needs to want to do this.

[TheInvestigator]

Sorry! Didn't answer your question. Weight loss can reverse diabetes. But even it if doesn't, the weight loss is still the best chance for his overall health and survival.

[mookinsx]

Its not just weight loss it's diet. There is a very good and strict diet about it but I cannot remember the authors name. I will research and come back but yes I have heard of it being 'reversed' in the fact it doesn't impact their life that much and they aren't insulin dependent

[Geekster1963]

He knows he needs to lose weight I try not to nag him about it as I don't want him to feel bad or that I'm not supportive, I think that this is the push he needs to do something about it, because like you said he has to do it, I can't lose the weight for him.

[2cats2many]

I work with a guy who did. He started cycling to work and to meetings, got the bug and started doing long bike rides for sport/pleasure. Lost loads of weight and now doesn't have it.

[Tatiannatomasina]

Keto has reversed my pre diabetes and I have lost 11kgs in the process. He needs to get his blood sugar levels down asap. All the drs I spoke to advocated over 100g of carbs a day. I stay below 30g and test regularly. Losing weight helps, but he needs to stop eating things that cause his sugars to spike.

[Whatdoyouknowwhenyouknownowt]

Yep, my pal has, hone low-carb & lost a lot of weight.

Diabetes UK now has decent info.

[Biscusting]

Yes! Definitely there was a study done just last year I think. If I recall correctly something like 80% or more of individuals who took part in a calorie controlled diet under medical supervision managed to reverse it. Although the authors did note that reversal was only this successful in people who were diagnosed within two years. The longer your diabetic the less likely you were to reverse it.

Best of luck to your DH!

[1Wildheartsease]

Have a look at THE BLOOD SUGAR DIET (Michael Mosley) - it is full of very positive stuff about reversing diabetes

[Biscusting]

*you’re!

[nancy75]

My fil has, he’s lost quite a lot of weight (despite double knee replacement & being over 70) he increased exercise as much as possible and Changed his diet completely. He always had a very sweet tooth but cut out the cakes & switched to lots of fish, veg & chicken. For lunch he’s cut out a lot of bread & has salads (he got a lot of help from his doctor with diet but he is in Australia so probably different to what is available here)

[TowandaForever]

@Tatiannatomasina

OVER 100g of carbs ?

[gettofuckthrees]

Know my friends mum has, in her fifties and managed to more than half her diabetes meds. Y following keto diet.

[ginandbearit]

Youtube Dr Jason Fung for serious information and examples plus look at the Newcastle Diet , basically 600 -800calorie meal replacements ..tough but better than losing a foot or eyesight

[Carpetburns]

Yes, my mum! She's mid-sixties and lost around 3 stone. She has completely reversed her diabetes and no longer takes any medication. She was 64mmol and now 38mmol.

[Geekster1963]

Thanks everyone I will have a look at your suggestions.

[CardinalSin]

Me. I was diagnosed over a year ago. I went on the 5-2 diet and lost a few stone. Apparently, the fasting aspect in particular helps to reverse type 2 diabetes.

[chocolatebrazilnut]

The original research was funded by Diabetes UK and carried out by Prof Taylor of Newcastle University. If you search online you can find lots of information about it. You don’t have to follow a specific diet although they used a VLCD in the original study, and Michael Moseley recommends a low carb diet with around 800 calories per day (the Blood Sugar diet). It’s definitely worth it, as even if he doesn’t manage to reverse the condition it will help his control, although as another poster mentioned it’s worth discussing with his diabetes team.

I recommend joining Diabetes UK - they send out a magazine every couple of months with useful articles, and as I said, they use the money raised to fund research into the condition.

I wish I could say my dh managed it but although he appeared to have reversed the condition for a few years it worsened eventually and it turns out he actually had latent Type 1, but that’s a whole other story (!) and hopefully your dh will have long term success if he improves his diet and fitness 🙂

[Chocolate35]

I’m a little uncertain about the term “reversing” it. I have family members who have Type 2 Diabetes that is now diet controlled rather than by medication but they still “have” it. It is totally possible to be without medication but it’s lifelong. DF lost 2 stone but after 20 years he is still extremely careful about what he eats. Steer clear of fad diets and tell him to monitor his sugar level closely.

[chocolatebrazilnut]

Chocolate35 is correct in saying you don’t reverse it really, it’s considered to be ‘in remission’. It’s a lifelong condition but some people can come off drugs and have ‘normal’ blood sugar readings if they lose weight. Those who have not had the condition for very long have a better chance of success btw- that’s one positive for your dh (the theory is that the longer your pancreatic function has been compromised, the less chance of recovery there is).

[Dragongirl10]

Yes my dad, he is 84 and struggled with his weight since retiring from a physical job at 70, he had type 2 , and 2 years ago reversed it entirely by losing 2stone on a diet similar to Michael Moseleys Blood Sugar diet.( My dad didn’t have any more than 2 excess stone to lose.)
He also took up swimming 3 times a week and golf on 2 days( He marches fast around the course)
If he can do this in his 80s anyone can...

[cricketmum84]

Not me but my MIL did. She lost around 4 stone and reversed her diabetes. She still has checks but (touch wood) is still safe.

She cut out carbs and massively reduced her portion sizes. She is now a size 10 and still worn eat carbs as she is so nervous about the diabetes coming back. I think it was a real shock to her system.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

My mum.

Diagnosed last year. BMI of 28 at the time. (So not huge.) Has lost 2.5 stone and now has a BMI of 22.

As someone above said - her diabetes is in “remission”. If she had gone to the doctors for the first time today then she would be a “pre-diabetic” not a diabetic. She’s hoping that the next blood test will take her out of that range as well.

She found exercising got easier once she started losing weight - as her aching joints improved quickly when there was less of her to lug around.

[Geekster1963]

Thanks all lots of useful information and things for us to look at. He had blood tests done less than six months ago when he started a new job and wasn't diabetic then so he hasn't been for long so hopefully with the right diet, weight loss and exercise we can control it.

[Oldmum55]

Keto diet is a great idea to cut right back on carbs to manage Type 2 diabetes but what if you don't eat meat or fish?