Can a 50 y/o reverse type 2 diabetes through dietary changes?

Question

Hello doctor,

My HbA1c was 8.9 when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year at age 50. Since then, I have lost around 26 pounds and completely cut out sugary drinks. Can someone who is 50 years old and has type 2 Diabetes still reverse it through dietary changes? My fasting blood sugar levels have already improved, but I am unsure if reversal truly means being cured or just temporarily controlled.

Please guide.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concerns.

What you have accomplished is genuinely meaningful. Losing 26 pounds and eliminating sugary drinks can significantly impact type 2 diabetes (a chronic condition where the body either resists the effects of insulin or does not produce enough to maintain normal blood sugar (glucose) levels), especially when diagnosed later in life.

Many individuals diagnosed around age 50 are able to bring their blood sugar levels back into a non-diabetic range through sustained weight loss, dietary changes, increased physical activity, and sometimes medication.

When doctors refer to “remission” or “reversal,” they typically do not mean that diabetes is permanently cured. Instead, it implies that blood sugar levels, including HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin), remain below the diabetic range for an extended period without the need for diabetes medication, while the underlying predisposition to diabetes still exists.

Therefore, it is more accurate to consider it as being controlled or in remission rather than completely erased. The encouraging news is that your improvement in fasting sugars already indicates that your body is responding positively to the changes you have made.

Even if full remission does not occur, lowering your blood sugar levels and weight significantly reduces the risk of complications and greatly enhances long-term health.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out.

Thank you.