Is type 2 Diabetes curable? Lifestyle changes and weight loss can be the key to remission

Written by Lena, Nutritionist (M.Sc. Medical Nutrition) | Reviewed by Emma , Qualified Healthcare Dispenser

Lifestyle-based diseases such as overweight and obesity and the resulting complications, e.g. type 2 diabetes rates, continue to increase worldwide. Currently, more than 4 million people in the UK live with type 2 diabetes. In light of these figures, it is little wonder we get the impression that previous interventions have been ineffective in combating this condition. How can we take action?

Topics at a glance

Intervention instead of diabetes medication for type 2 diabetes
Remission through diet - how does it work with type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes: normal blood sugar levels in 12 weeks
Type 2 diabetes under control
Three important lifestyle factors for a successful change to your diet
Remission Success Stories with Almased

Intervention instead of diabetes medication for type 2 diabetes

For a long time, type 2 diabetes was described as an incurable disease that had to be treated with medication or more insulin. Advances in medical science have shown that type 2 diabetes can in fact be brought "into remission" (possibly even reverse diabetes).

Clinicians do not speak specifically of a simple cure to managing diabetes – however, those affected can often return their elevated blood sugar levels to normal, without medication.

Of note, the DIRECT study showed that adopting a healthy lifestyle can slow down type 2 diabetes and help to lose weight, which offers hope for a patient with a diagnosis.

This lifestyle change, with remission as its goal, includes:

A low-glycaemic diet
More movement
Less stress

Remission through diet - how does it work with type 2 diabetes?

In most cases, type 2 diabetes is triggered by today’s lifestyle. Many people in the UK continue to eat in excess, reaching for unhealthy foods more often and spending too much time being sedentary, leading to obesity.

As a result, our body absorbs more energy through food than it expends - and this excess energy is stored in our cells in the form of fat and sugar deposits.

If we repeatedly consume too much food and thus too many calories over a long period of time, our cells will eventually be full of sugar and fat deposits. So crammed, our cells are limited in their function and as a result, protect themselves from further deposits and no longer absorb energy.

The problem: Energy in the form of sugar remains in our blood and so blood sugar levels continue to rise following meals. We feel tired, listless more and more often and notice how our concentration decreases. A diagnosis at the doctor's surgery confirms diabetes has developed.

But we can offer hope: With a marked improvement in a low-calorie diet, our metabolism can be revived once again. Consuming less energy in the form of unhealthy carbohydrates and fats and contribute to a balanced and normal diet. At the same time, burning off the accumulated energy reserves can take place through regular exercise. In this way, our metabolism is re-balanced, energy can be absorbed and used effectively, therefore lead to weight loss and ultimate maintenance to begin for overweight patients.

Almased's Scientific Research

Type 2 diabetes: normal blood sugar levels in 12 weeks

For those with Diabetes, adopting a healthier lifestyle can be challenging at first. Abandoning old habits and learning new routines can be a struggle for many who are long used to their regular diet and lifestyle.

Professor Martin of the West German Diabetes and Health Centre research outlines the mechanisms by which blood sugar levels can be normalised. He recommends starting with a formula low calorie diet, which reinvigorates the metabolism resulting in swift success on the weighing scales for obese patients. Using the Almased 12-week Diabetes plan, blood glucose levels of Professor Martin’s patients improved significantly. Furthermore, the group were able to lose their excess weight and achieve HbA1c levels in a normal range with the formula diet. After a period of time, medication treatment was no longer necessary and a significant improvement in quality of life was observed.

The best news: Not confined to a clinical environment, you too can easily follow the 12-week Diabetes Plan and lose weight in the comfort of your own home!

How the diabetes plan works

Week 1:

With three Almased shakes a day, you will boost your metabolism during the 1st week and set the foundations for effective results. 2-3 litres of calorie-free, unsweetened beverages provide the body with sufficient fluids. To support the acid-base balance, we recommend 500-1000 ml of low-salt, home-cooked vegetable broth.

Week 2-4:

From the 2nd to the 4th week, two Almased shakes are consumed a day and eating a balanced meal at lunchtime, thus providing you with all the micro and macronutrients in the best possible way. About half of your plate should be filled with mixed, fresh vegetables (up to 500g). High-quality protein sources from fish, meat, dairy, eggs, or legumes can cover a third of the plate. These support satiety (feeling of fullness). The rest of your plate can be filled with 50g of fibre-rich carbohydrates (e.g. wholemeal bread, brown rice or other whole grains such as cereals).

Week 5-12:

During this time, replace your dinner with an Almased shake, while of course maintaining the above dietary recommendations for eating the rest of the meals. Mineral-rich water, unsweetened tea and unsweetened coffee will keep you hydrated.

The Diabetes Diet Plan

Type 2 diabetes under control

Our diabetes plan will guide you to healthier lifestyle changes step by step, which

... has been proven to lower blood sugar levels and bring HbA1c levels into a healthy range.
... can revive the metabolism.
... is researched in global diabetes studies.
... can bring type 2 diabetes into clinical remission.
... can reduce medication and in certain cases eliminate it altogether.

Three important lifestyle factors for a successful change to your diet

1. Low glycaemic diet

In those with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels can easily get out of control, so simple sugars in the diet can become a problem. White bread, pasta, white rice, sweets and sweet baked goods, sugary drinks - all contain simple sugar structures that quickly enter the blood.

As such, they cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall rapidly, resulting in a high insulin demands within the body and ultimate cravings when blood sugar drops.

It is important to reduce carbohydrate content of a meal in preference to low-glycaemic foods. A high-protein diet with lots of vegetables and healthy fats satisfies without burdening the body with blood sugar spikes or excess calories. The composition of Almased with bioactive peptides, honey enzymes and amino acids supports blood glucose balance and leads the way to both weight loss and diabetes remission.

More about nutrition for Diabetes

2. More exercise

Regular exercise and sports are not only good for you, but also help people with type 2 diabetes lower blood sugar levels and improve the insulin sensitivity of cells within the body. Physical activity stimulates the body to use its fat reserves, improves blood pressure and blood lipids, stimulates blood circulation and reduces stress.

All of these factors have a positive effect on physical and mental well-being and can prevent heart disease and ensure other health benefits such as losing weight and therefore help to treat obesity.

Just 2 to 3 times a week of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise has a positive effect on health. Preferably, a combination of endurance and strengthening of the muscles should be adopted however, even small changes in everyday life are beneficial. A walk instead of sitting on the sofa, a staircase instead of using an escalator, a bike instead of driving a car, all can result in positive health effects.

More about exercise in our fitness blogs

3. Less stress

Permanent stress can not only be harmful to health, but also has a negative effect on body weight. In the long term, stress can even promote cardiovascular diseases and is considered a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. This is because stress hormones such as cortisol drive up blood sugar levels. Stress also promotes cravings for carbohydrates, in particular sugar. In addition, cortisol is responsible for the storage of unhealthy visceral fat (fat surrounding the vital organs).

How to counteract these risk factors:

Find time to relax and unwind
Adopt a healthy sleep routine
Become more active
Eat healthy meals regularly
Bring mindfulness into your life

Building new routines

Success Stories: Remission with Almased!

"Even on the third day, the scales were already showing quite astonishing numbers. My blood pressure and blood sugar values were closely monitored and I was able to reduce my insulin dosage by fifty percent after just a few days."

- Kurt B.

All Almased Success Stories

Sources:

German Health Report Diabetes 2023 https://www.diabetesde.org/system/files/documents/gesundheitsbericht_2023_final.pdf

1 Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomised trial PMID: 29221645 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33102-1

2 Efficacy of the Telemedical Lifestyle intervention Program TeLiPro in Advanced Stages of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-0303

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and psychological stress - a modifiable risk factor Ruth A Hackett, Andrew Steptoe PMID: 28664919 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.64

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