About one in 20 people has a chance of being completely free of type 2 diabetes.
- This figure is higher than expected.
- Patients who managed to recover from the disease did so on their own, by changing their habits such as diet and sedentary lifestyle.
Diabetes is a disease that most patients think they will have to manage for the rest of their lives. Although there is currently no treatment that can cure it permanently, a new study, published on November 2 in the journal PLOS Medicinereveals that one in 20 people has a chance of achieving remission from type 2 diabetes. She adds that this can happen without the need for bariatric surgery.
A higher number than expected
Previous studies have found a link between blood sugar dysfunction and poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet or being too sedentary. The study authors add that the increasing number of obese or overweight people, coupled with the aging of the population, contribute to an increase in the number of patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Looking at just over 162,000 type 2 diabetes patients in Scotland over 30 years, researchers found that around 5% of this group were in remission in 2019.”We were able to show, for the first time, that one in 20 people in Scotland with type 2 diabetes achieve remission. This figure is higher than expected and indicates a need for updated guidelines to help clinicians recognize and support these individuals.”, emphasizes Mireille Captieux, researcher at the University of Edinburgh and lead author of the study.
Change your habits
Scientists have found that patients who managed to recover from the disease did so on their own, by changing their habits. They noted that losing weight and taking blood sugar-lowering medication are among the best options people can use to reverse their diabetic condition.
The study authors hope that if more people know about these options, it’s possible that even more diabetics can get rid of the disease.
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