Reversing Diabetes (Type 2)

[AyG]

I've read reports of the research by Prof. Taylor (Newcastle University, UK) about reversing type 2 diabetes by following a very strict (600 calorie/day for men) diet for a number of weeks (albeit with a very small sample of guinea pigs). There are also lots of anecdotal reports of similar reversals with similar extreme energy restriction. However, I'm left confused.

The research was apparently inspired by people who'd had gastric bands, dramatically reducing their calorific intake. However, Prof. Taylor seems to suggest that diabetes is a function of a personal tolerance of fat in the pancreas and liver which is related to BMI. And I quote

"Some people can tolerate a BMI of 40 or more without getting diabetes. Others cannot tolerate a BMI of 22 without diabetes appearing, as their bodies are set to function normally at a BMI of, say 19."

Question: Does reversal depend upon very harsh dieting? Or would a more moderate diet be equally effective (albeit over a longer timescale)?

Prof. Taylor suggests that fat is preferentially burnt from the pancreas and liver - before, say, abdominal fat - suggesting that any diet might be effective. However, something like a 5:2 diet or IF (intermittent fasting) seem to rely upon burning glycogen then metabolising muscle tissue.

Thoughts, please?

[partington]

Paper is here for people who want to read it:

http://www.diabetologia-journal.org/Lim.pdf

I hadn't seen this - thanks for pointing it out. It does look extremely interesting, but the size of cohort in the trial is really, really really, small. With so few subjects it is hard to know if it's something of a fluke. And they do point out that all their patients had diabetes for 4 years or less, so there's no guarantee the same effect would occur in people with more advanced disease.

Still, if it proves to be repeatable in a much larger group it's very exciting, raising the possibility that, in principle, the condition is really reversible.

Practically, though 600 calories a day is an extraordinarily low intake (7or 8 slices of white bread say), and most people would find it almost impossible to sustain for two months at a stretch.

It seems to be important to be in a state of negative energy balance for the entire period of the diet, i.e. you must be eating fewer calories than you use in energy every day, so that you are forced to use stored body fat to make up the shortfall.

For that reason I'm guessing a moderate diet or intermittent fasting just won't be effective.

Edited June 23, 2013 by partington

[chiang mai]

I agree that the sample size is too small to be meaningful, but I strongly suspect there is a basis for the claim albeit it hasn't been scientifically proven, yet.

I continue to be mystified by the effect of diet on my blood sugar levels, in the space of six months I have gone from a fasting levels of 135+ down to 97/105 with an increasing number of two digit readings being seen, if the trend continues I expect to be in two digit fasting numbers exclusively within another three months.

Ditto the above for my 2 hour postprandial meal readings, all have gone from 160+ to 105 on average, again, with a number of two digit readings being increasingly seen.

All the above has been achieved solely by taking ultra care with my diet alone, initially this was very low carb but increasingly it's becomming much more normal to include oatmeal, potato, rice, chocolate etc. I'm absolutely certain that the human body needs time to adjust to changes in food intake and some time those changes take many weeks, I have records of absolutely everything I've eaten and drunk for the past seven months and the associated 2 hour postprandial blood glucose levels. I can see from those records that trying to eat X, Y or Z five months ago was almost impossible since it elevated my blood glucose levels to ridiculous highs, eating many of those same items today produces much more normal readings.

So what's the theory here, I think it goes something like this: the digestive system and the metabolism max out as some point as a result of poor dietary control. But give the body a chance to rest, reduce thyour body weight to long term norms, withdraw the excess carbs and retrain it over time and the body might just adjust and return to being close to normal, that certainly seems to be what's happening in my case. The caveat to all of this I would guess is that trying to do all of this after several years of elevated blood glucose levels, may not be possible hence it needs to be caught early.

[Tolley]

There is another school of thought that implicates bad fats in the diet as the major cause of type 2 diabetes ie trans fats, hydrogenated veg. oils, margarine and that replacing them with good fats can lead to getting rid of symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

[SurichTan]

My wife and I were pre-diabetic and now I am at around 5.6 and she is at about 6.1 (multiply by 18 if you using another units). We used to be much 7+.

This what we do to get the number down. everyone is unique and you have to try and adjust the ways.

1. Get a Glucometer and measure diligently.

2. We tried acupuncture and TCM. worked on me but not her.

3. Now we just use herbal supplements (biotin) and tea (Gymnema tea, Mulberry tea, bitter melon).

4. Our breakfast consist of corns and sweet potatoes and oats.

Since we test our glucose alternate days, we pretty much know what works and what does not.

Edited June 23, 2013 by SurichTan

[Sheryl]

Need to understand that diet cannot reverse Type II diabetes, although in many people diet alone can fully control it. There's a difference.

[partington]

Need to understand that diet cannot reverse Type II diabetes, although in many people diet alone can fully control it. There's a difference.

Actually in the paper, reversal, ie restoration of both normal beta cell function and hepatic insulin sensitivity, is what they claim is occurring.

I know, amazing, but the limited data supports it!

[Tolley]

Need to understand that diet cannot reverse Type II diabetes, although in many people diet alone can fully control it. There's a difference.

Actually in the paper, reversal, ie restoration of both normal beta cell function and hepatic insulin sensitivity, is what they claim is occurring.

I know, amazing, but the limited data supports it!

There are other protocols out there that claim to be able to reverse diabetes type 11 although they have not been subject to any strict research.

I dont think it is incredible that it might be possible to reverse a disease that is often described as a 'lifestyle' disease.

Finding the key thou is the big thing.

[chiang mai]

I'm under no illusion in that there is no proven way to reverse diabetes at present although like others, I believe it is possible that a way may welll be found at some point. In the meantime, I am hugely satisfied with the progress and results that I have made personally and as long as the current trend continues I will not be dissapppointed (for me) if no cure is found. Consequently, I would strongly urge everyone to a) test their glucose levels once every three months and if they are found to be high, get involved in immediate dietary changes and stick with them, it's not easy at first but it gets easier as you go forward and then it actually becomes very rewarding and you'll wonder why you didn't do such things earlier in life.

Apologies, one more thought:

In looking at the number of views of this thread it signals to me at least the very real need for an education campaign on the part of governements and the medical professions, 100 views in almost one day. Sadly the people who are following this thread are the people who most likely already have diabetes yet the people who should be paying attention to the issue is the rest of the population, the ones who think that you catch diabetes by putting too much sugar in your coffee or by eating too many sweets, that's the group who have the chance to avoid diabetes entirely by making some life style changes today.

Edited June 24, 2013 by chiang mai

[Tolley]

I'm under no illusion in that there is no proven way to reverse diabetes at present although like others, I believe it is possible that a way may welll be found at some point. In the meantime, I am hugely satisfied with the progress and results that I have made personally and as long as the current trend continues I will not be dissapppointed (for me) if no cure is found. Consequently, I would strongly urge everyone to a) test their glucose levels once every three months and if they are found to be high, get involved in immediate dietary changes and stick with them, it's not easy at first but it gets easier as you go forward and then it actually becomes very rewarding and you'll wonder why you didn't do such things earlier in life.

Apologies, one more thought:

In looking at the number of views of this thread it signals to me at least the very real need for an education campaign on the part of governements and the medical professions, 100 views in almost one day. Sadly the people who are following this thread are the people who most likely already have diabetes yet the people who should be paying attention to the issue is the rest of the population, the ones who think that you catch diabetes by putting too much sugar in your coffee or by eating too many sweets, that's the group who have the chance to avoid diabetes entirely by making some life style changes today.

As with all the diseases it is far better to try and avoid the condition in the first place by taking proactive control of your own health.

Unfortunately although there are some factors that may contribute to diabetes type 11 they dont really know what causes it.

I did find some very interesting research which I posted here in another thread that implicates pasteurised milk as a possible cause of diabetes type 2 so I would definitely limit my consumption of pastuerised milk and also look at the other obvious ones like weight, diet, exercise and good fat intake.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21251764

Milk signalling in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Melnik BC.

Source

Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany. [email protected]

Abstract

The presented hypothesis identifies milk consumption as an environmental risk factor of Western diet promoting type 2 diabetes (T2D). Milk, commonly regarded as a valuable nutrient, exerts important endocrine functions as an insulinotropic, anabolic and mitogenic signalling system supporting neonatal growth and development. The presented hypothesis substantiates milk's physiological role as a signalling system for pancreatic β-cell proliferation by milk's ability to increase prolactin-, growth hormone and incretin-signalling. The proposed mechanism of milk-induced postnatal β-cell mass expansion mimics the adaptive prolactin-dependent proliferative changes observed in pregnancy. Milk signalling down-regulates the key transcription factor FoxO1 leading to up-regulation of insulin promoter factor-1 which stimulates β-cell proliferation, insulin secretion as well as coexpression of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). The recent finding that adult rodent β-cells only proliferate by self-duplication is of crucial importance, because permanent milk consumption beyond the weaning period may continuously over-stimulate β-cell replication thereby accelerating the onset of replicative β-cell senescence. The long-term use of milk may thus increase endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and toxic IAPP oligomer formation by overloading the ER with cytotoxic IAPPs thereby promoting β-cell apoptosis. Both increased β-cell proliferation and β-cell apoptosis are hallmarks of T2D. This hypothesis gets support from clinical states of hyperprolactinaemia and progeria syndromes with early onset of cell senescence which are both associated with an increased incidence of T2D and share common features of milk signalling. Furthermore, the presented milk hypothesis of T2D is compatible with the concept of high ER stress in T2D and the toxic oligomer hypothesis of T2D and may explain the high association of T2D and Alzheimer disease

Edited June 24, 2013 by Tolley

[chiang mai]

Doctors here, even endocrinologists are not very good at pre-empting the signals of diabetes, wieght gain it seems is a personal issue that doctors appear not to want to discuss so this is an aspect that whilst very simple, needs to be monitored closely by individuals.

Another aspect that appears uncommon amongst medical staff is an awareness of metabolic syndrome, this is where the lipids, triglycerides, blood glucose and weight all become elevated, this is one of the surest markers for pre-diabetes yet doctors in Thailand don't seem to talk about such things - even assistant professors at the teaching hospitals, endocrinologists and well regarded familt doctors in my neck of the woods ignore the implications of those things.

A simple answer to the above is to weigh yourself once a week and to become concerned when your weight increases by more than 5% of total body wieght. Another highly efficient check is to monitor lipds, liver panel and fasting blood glucose levels, once every three months. Don't leave it up to the doctor to tell you that everything is just fine, record the numbers and look for changes over time and when you see them, go see a specialist and start asking lots of leading questions.

Finally, most people seem to understand that night time thirst is a marker for diabetes but so is increased appetite and night sweats, all three can have innocent causes and be temporary but they can also be key signals that shouldn't be ignored.

Edited June 24, 2013 by chiang mai

[CaptHaddock]

Reversing is a strong claim. For most people with Type II diabetes controlling it would be a sufficient outcome. My father was diagnosed with type II at age 55. He took the oral meds for a few years until the doctors told him he had to start doing insulin injections, which he very much didn't want to do. He went to a number of specialists asking what he could do to avoid having to inject insulin for the rest of his life. He was already following the dietary recommendations strictly, but was still a little overweight. At the time I happened upon a book about treating type II with exercise. It seems before the advent of insulin the standar treatment was exercise and diet. However, none of the specialists he consulted ever mentioned exercise to him. Anyway, he read the book, took up running, lost all the excess weight, was able to stop taking the oral meds completely for about 30 years, although now, at age 91, he is back taking the meds. He never had to inject insulin. He no longer runs, but he still walks every day.

The moral of the story is that you can't depend entirely on the doctors for the information you need, but you can manage the diabetes. The first step is to lose all the extra weight and then keep it off with diet and aerobic exercise.

[chiang mai]

I very much agree that loosing wieght is critical although the exersise aspect varies between individuals, in my case exersise has no impact on my numbers but I do so because I know it must be helping somewhere along the line.

Another interesting aspect of diabetes is how it is affected by tempreture and climate, in a hot climate blood vessels are dialated hence blood flows more freely, in a cold climate the opposite is true. As mentioned earlier I have extensive records of my diet and blood glucose levels over the past seven months and I've graphed my suagr levels so I can monitor progress more easily. In March this year I spent ten days in a very very cold UK and that period stands out like a sore thumb on the charts where the readings during that trip jump from an eaverage 110 to an average 130, despite my diet being broadly the same.

[CaptHaddock]

That seems surprising to me since our internal temperature remains the same despite differences in the ambient temp. However, in cold weather the body must be burning more calories to maintain the internal temperature. One would think burning more calories would benefit a diabetic, but perhaps it's more complicated than that.

I very much agree that loosing wieght is critical although the exersise aspect varies between individuals, in my case exersise has no impact on my numbers but I do so because I know it must be helping somewhere along the line.

Another interesting aspect of diabetes is how it is affected by tempreture and climate, in a hot climate blood vessels are dialated hence blood flows more freely, in a cold climate the opposite is true. As mentioned earlier I have extensive records of my diet and blood glucose levels over the past seven months and I've graphed my suagr levels so I can monitor progress more easily. In March this year I spent ten days in a very very cold UK and that period stands out like a sore thumb on the charts where the readings during that trip jump from an eaverage 110 to an average 130, despite my diet being broadly the same.

[chiang mai]

That seems surprising to me since our internal temperature remains the same despite differences in the ambient temp. However, in cold weather the body must be burning more calories to maintain the internal temperature. One would think burning more calories would benefit a diabetic, but perhaps it's more complicated than that.

I very much agree that loosing wieght is critical although the exersise aspect varies between individuals, in my case exersise has no impact on my numbers but I do so because I know it must be helping somewhere along the line.

Another interesting aspect of diabetes is how it is affected by tempreture and climate, in a hot climate blood vessels are dialated hence blood flows more freely, in a cold climate the opposite is true. As mentioned earlier I have extensive records of my diet and blood glucose levels over the past seven months and I've graphed my suagr levels so I can monitor progress more easily. In March this year I spent ten days in a very very cold UK and that period stands out like a sore thumb on the charts where the readings during that trip jump from an eaverage 110 to an average 130, despite my diet being broadly the same.

Best I could do for now.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-vasodilatation.htm

[happysanook]

Cut out carbohydrates by 80%. It's not only about calories, it's about what type of calories you're taking in so your blood sugar doesn't spike. I cut rice, noodles and sugar by 90% and though I hadn't hit diabetes yet, I was at prediabetic levels and decided to make the change. I lost 14 kilos (15% of my body weight) and reduced my blood sugar from 100+ to about 85. It's a long process though. It takes years to transform to diabetic, it takes a long time to transform back down as well.

Also, highly recommended is Forks Over Knives. I'm sure there are ways to find it.. They recommend 1 lb of veggies per day for every 50lbs of body weight. So avg 170lb male should eat 1.5 kilo of veggies a day.

[partington]

The thread is not about diets, in the sense of what kinds of foods you eat, though these obviously can affect the course of type 2 diabetes.

What the OP referred to is new research that shows the effects of a drastic reduction in the amount of calories consumed on type 2 diabetes, a treatment that would be more accurately termed "starvation".

That is, staying in negative energy balance, eating only 600 calories a day, for a period of 8 consecutive weeks. This is the sort of caloric limitation that no doctor would advise without continuous medical supervision, meaning you eat less per day than your body actually requires as energy to maintain all its functions.

It's this negative energy balance, not the nature of the food eaten to supply the calories, which apparently results in the restoration of normal insulin production, and normal tissue responses to insulin that were thought to be irreversible in type 2 sufferers,

Here is the link again to the actual research:

http://www.diabetolo...nal.org/Lim.pdf

[sustento]

Finally, most people seem to understand that night time thirst is a marker for diabetes but so is increased appetite and night sweats, all three can have innocent causes and be temporary but they can also be key signals that shouldn't be ignored.

Unexplained weight loss is also a diabetic symptom.

[jrtmedic]

partington

Thank you. However, it should be noted that this was a very small study and the paper you reference is both academic and scientific.

Recognising the highly technical nature of the reference would suggest that it is beyond the comprehension of most ordinary people (me included ! )

Whilst interesting, the outcome of the research does not suggest a reversal of Type11 diabetes is achievable for every person so affected. The severely restricted diet should also not be undertaken without VERY close medical supervision.

Perhaps this study will be repeated, perhaps in many places - although I have doubts because the necessary supervision required would make this a very expensive project.

[partington]

partington

Thank you. However, it should be noted that this was a very small study and the paper you reference is both academic and scientific.

Recognising the highly technical nature of the reference would suggest that it is beyond the comprehension of most ordinary people (me included ! )

Whilst interesting, the outcome of the research does not suggest a reversal of Type11 diabetes is achievable for every person so affected. The severely restricted diet should also not be undertaken without VERY close medical supervision.

Perhaps this study will be repeated, perhaps in many places - although I have doubts because the necessary supervision required would make this a very expensive project.

Yes totally agree with all your points. The dietary restrictions are extreme, and almost unachievable for most people.

I also agree with you that the study was on so few people that it could even turn out to be a statistical fluke.

On the other hand, this is such an interesting result, I really hope that it is followed up in larger cohort studies. The idea that type 2 diabetes is really caused by fat accumulation in pancreatic beta cells, and that drastic reduction in fat deposits in very specific tissues can reverse this condition seems really groundbreaking to me. Is it true? I don't know.

But really hopeful I think...

[Tolley]

The fact is that there is nothing really earth shattering when it comes to type 2 diabetes and managing it without the need for medications.

Diet and exercise are the keys and if followed most people can avoid the need to take medications that in many cases cause even more problems than the diabetes itself.

Of course the more advanced the condition the more difficult and the longer it will take to treat and if the damage is too great then lifestyle changes alone may not work.

I certainly wouldnt be waiting around for any magic bullets if i had type 2 diabetes when for the majority of people it can be successfully managed without any drug interventions

.

Edited June 27, 2013 by Tolley

[chiang mai]

I wonder how many expats there are in Thailand who have never had their blood glucose levels checked? A friend of mine recently blew me away when he told me that he'd not had any form of health exam, not even baisic tests, ever - he told me this as I had taken him to the emergency room at the local hospital after he collapsed for no apprent reason, his blood pressure turned out to be 165/118, aged 64, there must be loads others like him for whom diabetes will one day be a real struggle..

[mommysboy]

Most modern diabetes is about eating too much and exercising too little. It is a simple formula but perhaps hard to do.

[paleodoc]

Just to clarify a few points. I am a senior UK MD with an interest in nutrition and currently studying for an MSc in Nutrition.

Type 2 DM can indeed be reversed...cured by diet. The individual's predisposition remains but the condition (chronically elevated blood glucose levels) goes away. Any diet will achieve this if sufficient body weight (body fat) is lost. But, a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is the most effective and sensible to try for those with this condition. There are numerous references for this and I would be happy to provide some of them, if you are interested.

The usual references to 'eating too much and exercising too little'. In essence, probably true, but of no real help to any individual with this condition. The problem for most is that they eat too much of the very foods that cause the problem which is insulin resistance. Too much insulin is produced and secreted over a long period of time, leading to the body's tissues (initially the liver and muscle) to resist insulin signalling. Which foods do this? Carbohydrate containing foods are the biggest stimulators of insulin (by a mile!). Processed carbs and those high on the glycaemic index are the worst offenders.

A well formulated LCKD will help the individual with type 2 DM to lose weight and rapidly improve glycaemic ('Blood sugar') control. This initially reduces the need for medication and many individuals can stop medication altogether (when blood sugar is back within normal limits).

[chiang mai]

Just to clarify a few points. I am a senior UK MD with an interest in nutrition and currently studying for an MSc in Nutrition.

Type 2 DM can indeed be reversed...cured by diet. The individual's predisposition remains but the condition (chronically elevated blood glucose levels) goes away. Any diet will achieve this if sufficient body weight (body fat) is lost. But, a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is the most effective and sensible to try for those with this condition. There are numerous references for this and I would be happy to provide some of them, if you are interested.

The usual references to 'eating too much and exercising too little'. In essence, probably true, but of no real help to any individual with this condition. The problem for most is that they eat too much of the very foods that cause the problem which is insulin resistance. Too much insulin is produced and secreted over a long period of time, leading to the body's tissues (initially the liver and muscle) to resist insulin signalling. Which foods do this? Carbohydrate containing foods are the biggest stimulators of insulin (by a mile!). Processed carbs and those high on the glycaemic index are the worst offenders.

A well formulated LCKD will help the individual with type 2 DM to lose weight and rapidly improve glycaemic ('Blood sugar') control. This initially reduces the need for medication and many individuals can stop medication altogether (when blood sugar is back within normal limits).

No you are not and no it is not possible to reverse Type II Diabetes.

Edited June 27, 2013 by chiang mai

[partington]

Just to clarify a few points. I am a senior UK MD with an interest in nutrition and currently studying for an MSc in Nutrition.

Type 2 DM can indeed be reversed...cured by diet. The individual's predisposition remains but the condition (chronically elevated blood glucose levels) goes away. Any diet will achieve this if sufficient body weight (body fat) is lost. But, a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is the most effective and sensible to try for those with this condition. There are numerous references for this and I would be happy to provide some of them, if you are interested.

The usual references to 'eating too much and exercising too little'. In essence, probably true, but of no real help to any individual with this condition. The problem for most is that they eat too much of the very foods that cause the problem which is insulin resistance. Too much insulin is produced and secreted over a long period of time, leading to the body's tissues (initially the liver and muscle) to resist insulin signalling. Which foods do this? Carbohydrate containing foods are the biggest stimulators of insulin (by a mile!). Processed carbs and those high on the glycaemic index are the worst offenders.

A well formulated LCKD will help the individual with type 2 DM to lose weight and rapidly improve glycaemic ('Blood sugar') control. This initially reduces the need for medication and many individuals can stop medication altogether (when blood sugar is back within normal limits).

I also find this claim a little strange. In the UK doctors are not called MDs, this is a US terminology. (The MD in the UK is research degree like a Ph.D) Plus paleo is the name of a more or less faddy type of diet, so the poster's screen name may be a sign that maybe this poster is stretching the truth a bit?

The reasons why people develop insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes are still not fully understood, even by leading researchers in the field. However it is clear that the increase in insulin production in the early stages of diabetes is a response to insulin resistance, not its cause. In other words because insulin resistance has developed in peripheral tissues, mainly muscle, glucose is not transported effectively into those tissues, so blood glucose becomes elevated. As a response to this, the pancreas starts to make and secrete more and more insulin, and this increase can overcome the insulin resistance , normalising blood glucose.

However the need to secrete higher and higher amounts of insulin to normalise blood sugar in some way eventually harms the pancreas, and insulin production can no longer be sustained at these unusually elevated levels and falls, resulting in uncontrolled increases in blood glucose. At the point where your pancreas is damaged you have frank type 2 diabetes, and this cannot be reversed by diet.

[chiang mai]

I believe we know this poster from a recent exchange on the same subject that ended with thread closure and a firm rebuke from Sheryl, looks like he's rebadged himself.

[Tolley]

Just to clarify a few points. I am a senior UK MD with an interest in nutrition and currently studying for an MSc in Nutrition.

Type 2 DM can indeed be reversed...cured by diet. The individual's predisposition remains but the condition (chronically elevated blood glucose levels) goes away. Any diet will achieve this if sufficient body weight (body fat) is lost. But, a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is the most effective and sensible to try for those with this condition. There are numerous references for this and I would be happy to provide some of them, if you are interested.

The usual references to 'eating too much and exercising too little'. In essence, probably true, but of no real help to any individual with this condition. The problem for most is that they eat too much of the very foods that cause the problem which is insulin resistance. Too much insulin is produced and secreted over a long period of time, leading to the body's tissues (initially the liver and muscle) to resist insulin signalling. Which foods do this? Carbohydrate containing foods are the biggest stimulators of insulin (by a mile!). Processed carbs and those high on the glycaemic index are the worst offenders.

A well formulated LCKD will help the individual with type 2 DM to lose weight and rapidly improve glycaemic ('Blood sugar') control. This initially reduces the need for medication and many individuals can stop medication altogether (when blood sugar is back within normal limits).

I also find this claim a little strange. In the UK doctors are not called MDs, this is a US terminology. (The MD in the UK is research degree like a Ph.D) Plus paleo is the name of a more or less faddy type of diet, so the poster's screen name may be a sign that maybe this poster is stretching the truth a bit?

The reasons why people develop insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes are still not fully understood, even by leading researchers in the field. However it is clear that the increase in insulin production in the early stages of diabetes is a response to insulin resistance, not its cause. In other words because insulin resistance has developed in peripheral tissues, mainly muscle, glucose is not transported effectively into those tissues, so blood glucose becomes elevated. As a response to this, the pancreas starts to make and secrete more and more insulin, and this increase can overcome the insulin resistance , normalising blood glucose.

However the need to secrete higher and higher amounts of insulin to normalise blood sugar in some way eventually harms the pancreas, and insulin production can no longer be sustained at these unusually elevated levels and falls, resulting in uncontrolled increases in blood glucose. At the point where your pancreas is damaged you have frank type 2 diabetes, and this cannot be reversed by diet.

It all depends what you mean by reverse. I think you guys are arguing at cross purposes.

The other poster mentioned you can reverse the high blood sugar levels which is true and look at this from the diabetes UK website. You need to distinguish between reverse and cure.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/reversing-diabetes.html

Reversing Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes medication dependency can be reversed with a change in health and lifestyle choices

Also see:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Newcastle Study: 600 cal diet
• Foods which help diabetes

Reversing diabetes is a term used to describe interventions that reduce dependency on type 2 diabetes medications, effectively reversing the progression of the illness.

With time and dedication, type 2 diabetes can be reversed and the results can be very rewarding with less tiredness and better all round health.

Loss of body weight can be particularly beneficial in helping to reverse the progression of diabetes.

In some cases, people may find they are able to come off medication, although blood sugar levels should be checked regularly as reversing progression of diabetes is not a cure.

Do not come off medication unless advised to by your healthcare team.

Here are some interesting stories from people who tried the starvation method and maintain that they are 'cured'.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/may/12/type-2-diabetes-diet-cure

Edited June 28, 2013 by Tolley

[chiang mai]

We're at risk of debating semantics here but at a minimum the UK Diabetes site uses sloppy English I reckon! Yes you can reverse medication dependancy, yes you can reverse the symptoms of Diabetes, no you cannot reverse the progression of the disease itself. And the implications of saying that a person can reverse diabetes is not only very loose it also holds false promise for sufferers and that is highly inappropriate, I think.

[Tolley]

Just to clarify a few points. I am a senior UK MD with an interest in nutrition and currently studying for an MSc in Nutrition.

Type 2 DM can indeed be reversed...cured by diet. The individual's predisposition remains but the condition (chronically elevated blood glucose levels) goes away. Any diet will achieve this if sufficient body weight (body fat) is lost. But, a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is the most effective and sensible to try for those with this condition. There are numerous references for this and I would be happy to provide some of them, if you are interested.

The usual references to 'eating too much and exercising too little'. In essence, probably true, but of no real help to any individual with this condition. The problem for most is that they eat too much of the very foods that cause the problem which is insulin resistance. Too much insulin is produced and secreted over a long period of time, leading to the body's tissues (initially the liver and muscle) to resist insulin signalling. Which foods do this? Carbohydrate containing foods are the biggest stimulators of insulin (by a mile!). Processed carbs and those high on the glycaemic index are the worst offenders.

A well formulated LCKD will help the individual with type 2 DM to lose weight and rapidly improve glycaemic ('Blood sugar') control. This initially reduces the need for medication and many individuals can stop medication altogether (when blood sugar is back within normal limits).

Vegan diets also apparently work and they eat a lot of carbs and not huge amounts of protein. So the diets are almost opposite yet get the same results?

I am interest in the theory that trans fatty acids, saturated fat, margarine, and hydrogenated oils are perhaps the bigger culprits in the diabetes type 2 epidemic but have been largely overlooked with much more focus on sugar and refined carbs ?