Diabetes reversal has become a subject of interest in many quarters; patients, clinicians, and researchers are looking for ways to nip this rising epidemic in the bud. And very soon, Big Pharma may be forced to take a harder look at its diabetes management approach.

A recent study by the University of Cambridge is pointing at weight loss as The Ultimate for diabetes reversal. But before getting to this study, let’s define the terms.

What Is Diabetes Reversal?

Diabetes reversal means that a person previously diagnosed with diabetes is now able to maintain normal blood sugar levels without the use of diabetes medication. It also implies that this person can have a regular non-diabetic diet without spiking glucose levels.

Diabetes reversal is mostly associated with type 2 diabetes which is influenced by diet and lifestyle factors.

Weight loss has been linked to the reversal of type 2 diabetes in previous studies as well. This is because excess fat in the body affects the production of insulin and sensitivity to insulin as well.

Other research has shown that bariatric surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes effectively.

Study Linking Diabetes Reversal To Weight Loss

A clinical trial that was conducted by New Castle University showed that nearly 50% of individuals with type 2 diabetes achieved reversal after a weight-loss intervention that was conducted for six months.

The study involved 280 participants with type 2 diabetes. Half of them were put on a strict weight-loss program with restricted calorie intake through a liquid diet. Throughout the study duration, the participants did not take diabetes medication. The other half of the group continued with the usual care of diabetes medication.

After one year, 46% of people in the diet group achieved reversal which means normal blood sugar levels without taking medication

One notable observation was that the people who had achieved reversal had sustained improvement in pancreatic beta-cell function. This research appears to show that weight loss can revive these cells so that they work well again.

The study revealed that the response is associated with an improvement in the functioning of pancreatic beta cells. These are the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. If beta cells can be “re-awakened” through weight loss, many diabetes patients can regain control over their blood sugar levels and return to a non-diabetic state. These results were astonishing as it was earlier believed that beta-cell function is irreversibly lost in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The study also found that people who had been recently diagnosed stood a better chance of reversing their diabetes. The mean age for those who didn’t achieve reversal was 3.8 years, while the mean for those who succeeded was 2.7 years. This further stresses the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

Why Is Diabetes Reversal Important?

People can live with diabetes for many years. However, a number of factors make diabetes reversal very appealing. They can be categorized into two groups: non-life-threatening and life-threatening factors.

Non- Life-Threatening Risks of Diabetes

Once a person receives the diagnosis, they have to be on life-long medication unless a reversal happens. This can be painstaking on many fronts. There is a high cost of purchasing diabetic medications. Also, there is the inconvenience of having to take meds on a daily basis. When you fail to take meds or eat an appropriate diet, there is a risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. These two can present with the following symptoms:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin)
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections

Life-threatening complications

Long-term complications of diabetes develop over a period of time. When they come about, they may pose a life-threatening challenge. They include:

• Cardiovascular disease. Diabetes increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis).

• Nerve damage. High sugar levels in the blood can injure the walls of blood vessels that nourish the nerves. This will lead to a gradual loss of sensation in the limbs, which are mostly affected. This can eventually lead to a complete loss of sensation.

When the nerves in the gut are affected, a person may suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction.

• Kidney damage. Diabetes can damage the vessel in the kidneys that filter out compounds from the urine. When these compounds build up in the kidneys, they will cause toxicity and kidney damage in the long run. Kidney failure is the hallmark of end-stage kidney disease. This will call for regular dialysis or kidney transplant, which can be costly.
• Alzheimer’s disease. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Looking at the possible complications that may come with the diagnosis of diabetes, reversal seems the only safe way out.

References

1. Mayo Clinic: Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444
2. Healthline: Is Diabetes Type 2 Reversible? https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes-reversible
3. Springer (2011): Reversal of type 2 diabetes: normalization of beta-cell function in association with decreased pancreas and liver triacylglycerol. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00125-011-2204-7
4. New Castle University: Reversing type 2 diabetes.  Retrieved from – https://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal/#publicinformation

Important Points:

• Gut bacteria
• Microbiota
• Type 2 Diabetes

Is Diabetes linked to bacteria invading your colon?

The gut has been called by many scientists as the second brain. Our brain regulates the intricate functions of our body autonomously while we go about our business. The same goes for our gastrointestinal system. Our GI is not just an organ system dedicated to digestion and excretion; it is a highly specialized network of neurons lining our guts and a complicated collection of microscopic organisms that play a vital role in our mental state, emotions, and metabolism.

In a recent study conducted by the Georgia State University, the role of the gut was shown to have major significance in predisposing a person to type 2 diabetes. In the study, researchers from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences have discovered that when gut microbiota stays within the outer regions of the mucus lining, it has no significant negative effect on the person but when the gut microbiota encroaches upon the cells well beyond its designated area, it has been found to cause inflammation which can interfere with the normal functioning of the hormone insulin and thus leading to type 2 diabetes.

As of the moment, researchers are still conducting follow-up studies to isolate the specific bacteria that invade the lining and cause the inflammation that triggers the metabolic cascade into diabetes. Researchers are optimistic that when the bacteria are identified, it would pave the way in developing new treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/

Diabetes Linked To Bacteria Invading The Colon, Institute For Biomedical Sciences Study Finds

Treating the root cause of the disease, instead of the symptom is the key. Eliminate all refined carbohydrates to reverse obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

Refined carbohydrates are known to increase blood glucose levels, increase requirements for medications and result in weight gain. It is disturbing that dietary guidelines prioritize the consumption of starchy carbohydrates for type 2 diabetics, to nearly 55% of their daily macronutrient consumption.

Processed seed oil is associated with T2DM. Cohort studies confirm that plasma saturated fatty acids from dairy sources such as cheese and yoghurt is inversely related to the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Real food saturated fat is not subsidized…Industrial seed oils are subsidized. “Saturated fat intake was not associated with all -cause mortality, CVD mortality, total CHD, ischemic stroke, or type 2 diabetes.

The increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with type 2 diabetes does not begin at the diagnostic cutoff for plasma glucose (or HbA1c) at which the condition is diagnosed. Rather, there appears to be a continuum of increased microvascular and macrovascular risk that extends to levels of glycemia well below these cutoffs.”

Hopper I, BillahB, Skiba M, Krum H. Prevention of diabetes and reduction in major cardiovascular events in studies of subjects with prediabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Eur J Cardiovasc PrevRehabil. 2011;18:813–823.

Obesity, Prediabetes, and Diabetes Type 2 are associated with most of the diseases of modern society (cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease). These are all metabolic dysfunctions related to the malnutrition of overconsumption which leads to metabolic inflammation, or metal inflammation.

The best way to reverse diabetes is to not get diabetes in the first place because your chances of heart disease, cancer, and death are increased even as a prediabetic.

Our protocol offers real hope and transformational change to patients who would otherwise be consigned to a lifetime of medications, doctor’s visits, and suffering.

Could it be the sugar-sweetened beverage companies know that the reward system is activated by fructose, creating more compulsion to purchase?

The incidental side effect is an excessive fat accumulation in the liver, and our epidemic of NAFLD, Metabolic Syndrome, Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes. Could the priming of the opioid epidemic be associated?

If you are like most people, you are probably thinking that I have confused diabetes for diabesity, or you are probably wondering whether I intended to say obesity. You are not so far away from the truth as diabesity is a modern disease that links obesity with type 2 diabetes. Diabesity should be a concern for people with normal blood sugars who may be accustomed to unhealthy eating and lifestyle patterns. It is unfortunate that much is not mentioned about diabesity, which can predispose you to severe obesity, diabetes, and other fatal chronic conditions.

What Is Diabesity?

Diabesity is a sequence of events that starts with optimal blood sugar balance, to progressive insulin resistance, to being overweight, then becoming obese, and finally to full-blown Type-2 Diabetes. It comes in a spectrum that includes elevated blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other health complications. These problems stem from diet, lifestyle, and environmental toxins interacting with our unique genetic susceptibilities. A study published in NCBI in 2013 concluded that “(diabesity) makes a strong call for utilizing indigenous, low-cost means of enhancing healthy dietary and physical activity habits.” Diabesity can also be described as the coexistence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

What Are The Triggers For Diabesity?

Diabesity occurs following the development of insulin resistance and obesity. When your diet is full of empty calories: quickly absorbed sugars, liquid calories (soda, juice, sports drinks), and refined carbohydrates, you are likely to develop a resistance to insulin. Insulin (produced by beta cells in the pancreas) is the hormone that is responsible for grabbing glucose out of the bloodstream and storing it in cells. This ensures that blood sugar remains even in the blood. When the body starts ignoring the signal sent out by insulin, we call this insulin resistance. A high insulin level is one of the first signs because beta cells will keep releasing more and more insulin to try to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, the higher your insulin levels are, the worse your insulin resistance becomes.  High insulin levels will also cause a spike in appetite which leads to overeating. Very soon, you develop weight gain around the belly, more inflammation and oxidative stress, and other effects such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low HDL, atherosclerosis, and increased risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and depression.

It is important t note here that the root cause of the problem is insulin resistance and not elevated blood sugar. Fortunately, insulin resistance can be reversed since it is strongly linked to a poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Most people can save themselves from diabesity by eliminating the factors that send their biology out of balance and replacing them with what’s needed to help the body re-balance itself.

Diabesity and Genetics

Many people believe that insulin resistance and diabesity are genetic conditions that cannot be extraneously controlled. True enough, our genetic predisposition plays a role in how we choose what to eat and how to live. It also plays a role in the development of insulin resistance. However, insulin resistance and diabesity are greatly influenced by diet and lifestyle. By controlling these factors, you can greatly minimize your chances of developing the conditions.

How To Reverse Diabesity

Before reversing diabesity, there are a few things you can do to keep safe. They include:

1. Know the signs of insulin resistance.

One of the first tell-tale signs of insulin resistance is uncontrollable weight gain. You might also experience increased blood pressure and skin discoloration (acanthosis nigricans) on rare occasions. Unfortunately, insulin resistance may go unnoticed for years. Hence, you may be better off having some tests done.

2. Get the right tests done

You should get tested if you have a positive family history of type 2 diabetes and are affected by a poor diet as well as a sedentary lifestyle. An insulin response test is the best test to tease out the condition.

If you have already been diagnosed with diabesity, here are three things you can do to start your reversal journey.

Make healthy diet choices

This may involve the input of your physician, nutritionist/ dietician, and yourself to come up with the right meal plan. A healthy diet will start with the elimination of sugary and processed foods. Opt for wholesome grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, white meat, and unsaturated fats. You can read more about this type of diet here. (hyperlink to foods that improve insulin sensitivity).

Get adequate rest

Stress is a major contributor to insulin resistance and blood sugar imbalance.  Stress also contributes to making unhealthy food choices and overeating. You need to make a conscious effort to distress frequently by:

• Sleeping for at least 7 hours daily
• Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga
• Taking breaks in between work, like every two hours
• Taking sabbaticals and vacationing periodically

Quit a sedentary lifestyle

Modern jobs involve sitting at an office desk and hitting the keypad for hours on end. In a world where work is compensated by the hour, it can be difficult to make time for exercise. However, when you consider the negative long-term effects of a sedentary lifestyle, you will be forced to reconsider the value of the extra money. What is the point if it’s going to cost your health in the long run? Quitting a sedentary lifestyle involves making deliberate choices about exercise and fitness. This may mean walking at least 30 minutes every day or engaging in more vigorous aerobic exercise 4-6 times a week.

References

1.   Science Daily (2012): Genetic variants are linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120626151107.htm

2.   NCBI (2011): Is fast food addictive? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21999689

3.   NCBI (2013): Diabesity. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23905459

4.   NCBI (2008): High-fat diets cause insulin resistance despite an increase in muscle mitochondria. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2409421/