Can Type 2 Diabetes be Reversed with Diet?

A Type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis is often regarded as a lifelong sentence, and is typically treated as such, requiring an increasing number of drugs. However, although it is not regularly practiced, sustained remission of T2D is now well established.

In a recent primary care-based cohort study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, advice on a lower carbohydrate diet and weight loss was offered routinely to 9,800 patients with T2D in a suburban practice between 2013 and 2021.

Overall, remission was achieved in 51% of the patients who adopted a low-carbohydrate diet, with individuals diagnosed with T2D within the previous year more likely to achieve remission (77%) than those who had been diagnosed for longer (20% for patients with T2D duration greater than 15 years). Additionally, about 97% of the patients experienced improvements in blood glycemic control. Average LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure decreased, and there were also significant financial savings on drugs.

A low-carb diet may give hope to those with T2D as a practical, manageable way to achieve remission, as well as substantial health and financial benefits. Even for those with poorly controlled T2D who may not achieve remission, improvements in diabetic control may be within reach.