Can Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus be Cured?
Can type 2 diabetes mellitus be cured?
Though Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition, Studies shows it is not impossible to reverse it, before knowing into the detail of reversing the type 2 diabetes lets know the factors which plays a major role in it
- Insulin helps the cells to absorb glucose (sugar) by reducing blood sugar levels, thereby providing energy to the cells with glucose.
- When blood sugar falls below the normal level, a hormone called glucagon is released from the pancreas. Glucagon is a hormone that instructs the liver to release the stored glucose in order to increase the blood sugar levels.
Liver stores and produces sugar:
The liver acts as the body’s glucose reservoir and helps to maintain the circulating blood sugar levels to be on track. The liver both stores and produce glucose, depending on the body’s need. The need to store or release glucose is primarily signaled by the hormones called insulin and glucagon. After a meal, your liver stores sugar as glycogen for use at a later time when your body needs it.
When you are in need liver can makes sugar:
When you’re not eating, the liver has its own way to make its own sugar. The liver supplies sugar or glucose by breaking bigger molecules of sugar into glucose. The liver is capable of manufacturing sugar by utilizing amino acids, waste products and fat byproducts.
What is fatty liver and what role it plays in Type 2 diabetes?
Fatty liver is a condition in which excess fat stored up in your liver; it increases your risk of developing a liver inflammation or scarring (cirrhosis). It is also linked to an increased risk of liver cancer, heart disease and kidney disease, however fatty liver disease plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, Studies shows that the fatty liver lead to increase in fasting blood sugar and cirrhotic liver does not respond to insulin, Thus glucose cannot enter the cells and stays elevated in the blood which leads to type 2 diabetes.
Is Type 2 DM being reversible through Bariatric surgery?
The first indication that the type 2 diabetes is fully reversible came from the weight loss surgery, studies shows that the blood sugar levels was back to normal in obese patient with type 2 diabetes who had underwent weight loss surgery previously and 10 years later around 90% of them were free from diabetes. On observation they found out the glucose levels in blood was normalized within the days after the bariatric surgeries. This study showed that the diabetes can be reversed with a significant amount of weight loss, which led to the wide belief that the surgery itself brought a significant change in incretin hormone secretion; Incretins are nothing but a group of metabolic hormones that helps to decrease the blood glucose levels in our body.
Typically for those who are undergoing bariatric surgeries would require a daily calorie intake of 3,200 kcal/day for the weight maintenance. This intake will decrease abruptly at the time of surgery. The difference in fat storage due to low intake of calories after surgery brings an intense change within the cells for fat metabolism.
It is known that under low calorie diet, excess of fat in the liver is converted into energy first. The fasting plasma glucose was shown to be improved because of an 81% decrease in liver fat content which helps in normalization of hepatic insulin sensitivity with no change in the insulin resistance of muscle.
Is it possible to reverse type 2 diabetes in diet?
If the weight loss caused by the surgery was able to bring the hepatic insulin sensitivity back to normal, then the type 2 diabetes should be correctable through diet and persistence. To reverse diabetes, you may need to follow certain steps
Few effective ways to reverse diabetes include:
- Low-carbohydrate diets
- Very low-calorie diets
- Exercise
- Bariatric surgery
Low-carbohydrate diets:
Carbohydrates or carbs raise blood glucose more than other foods, meaning that the body must produce more insulin to digest them. Reducing carbohydrate intake can help in stabilizing blood glucose in type 2 diabetes. It may help to counteract few more effects of diabetes.
Foods that have low carbohydrate are as follows:
- Lean protein, such as eggs, fish, nuts, and tofu
- Vegetables
- Moderate fruits
- Nuts and seeds
- Good fats, such as olives or avocados
AVOID the following foods as they have high carbohydrate content in it:
- processed foods, such as prepackaged meals and salty snacks
- sugar-rich foods, such as cakes, candies, pastries, cookies, sodas, and juices
- starches, especially white bread or bagels
- alcoholic beverages
- potatoes, including potato chips
- other starchy vegetables
- white pasta
Very low calorie diets in type 2 diabetes:
Usually, low-calorie foods leave you feeling hungry and unfilled between meals It makes you much more tempting to over eat. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy foods exist that are both filling and low in calories.
They are
- Oats
- Green yogurt
- Soup
- Berries
- Eggs
- Chia seeds
- Cottage cheese
Cutting back on calories doesn’t mean you have to constantly feel hungry or unsatisfied between meals.
Eating a wide variety of filling foods rich in protein and fiber can fight against cravings and helps to decrease hunger
Exercise :
Exercise lowers blood sugar in two ways:
- First, exercise increases insulin sensitivity. This means that your body is able to use available insulin. Cells absorb sugar from the bloodstream in an effective way and use as energy for your body.
- Exercise can help in another way in type 2 diabetes. It stimulates a mechanism that allows your muscles to use sugar for energy, even without insulin.
Here are some of the exercises that can help you reach your fitness goals.
- Brisk walking
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Calisthenics
- Water aerobics
Bariatric surgery:
Bariatric surgery is an operation that is performed in order to help the individuals to lose weight. It is a weight-loss surgery bypassing the stomach and collectively known as bariatric surgery. It involves changes to your digestive system for helping you lose weight. Bariatric surgery is done as a last resort where diet and exercise doesn’t work. It is also recommended when you have serious health problems because of your weight.
CONCLUSION:
Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without the help of oral diabetic medication and insulin. This doesn’t mean you’re completely cured.
Type 2 diabetes is still a serious condition. It is a prolonged illness and gets worse over time. You can achieve complete remission when the blood glucose level returns back to normal levels completely outside of the range of diabetes or prediabetes and stays there for at least 1 year without any medications and prolonged remission is achievable when complete remission lasts for at least 5 years.
• Berries
• Eggs
• Chia seeds
• Cottage cheese
Eating a wide variety of filling foods rich in protein and fiber can fight against cravings and helps to decrease hunger
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