Dr V Mohanin The Times Fad Diets and Fast Weight Loss Program, Diabetes Reversal has become a hot topic of discussion, especially on social media platforms.
While such a reversal is possible for some people with type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes can not be reversed.
However, there are many sides to the reversal of diabetes, people do not realize.
This is an example.
One of my patients, a 35-year-old man, suffering from diabetes for six years.
Initially we treat it with tablets together with insulin because the sugar content is very high.
We put him on a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet after her weight dropped from 123kg to 99kg (weight loss 24kg), for two years.
He grabbed diabetanya remission.
His HbA1c decreased from 8.4% to 5.4%.
Fasting sugar levels down to 83 mg / dL and postprandial sugar to 110 mg / dl.
All the antidiabetic drug is stopped.
She then go around telling everyone that he’s ‘cured’.
He refused to come in for further examination.
He returned to eat without restrictions.
After nine months, she felt unwell and returned for review.
He has gained 13kg.
His HbA1c had shot up to 9.6% and blood sugar to 321 mg / dl.
He had to start all of his diabetes medication.
Diabetes ‘reversal’ has occurred.
I have seen a large number of people like that who have tried various diets FAD and reversal program, that diabetes is now worse than when they started this routine.
In the natural history of type 2 diabetes (as shown in the graph), there are stages of normal glucose tolerance, followed by a stage of pre-diabetes and eventually, diabetes.
This development is well known.
Less well known is the fact that some people may also move in the opposite direction – diabetes and pre-diabetes to normal.
According to the American Diabetes Association, the correct term for ‘reversal’ diabetes ‘remission’ diabetes.
Although they are used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference in meaning.
Imply reversal of diabetes will never go back.
Because this is rare, it is a term remission.
This is similar to the cancer went into remission.
There are several treatment options to achieve remission of diabetes.
One is through lifestyle modification is usually through a low calorie diet (800 calories / day).
This will result in a negative calorie balance and lead to rapid weight loss.
Low-carb diets (less than 10%) are also widely used.
The problem with the low-carb diet is that it will greatly increase the fat content of the diet can increase bad cholesterol (LDL) and thereby increase the risk of heart disease.
In addition, low-carb diets are rarely sustainable in our country.
Reversal use various technologies technology is being used today, to attempt a reversal.
The most common is to use a cell phone or a coach or a diabetes educator, who kept in touch with people and motivate them to achieve weight loss and hold on to their lifestyle modification.
There are various applications that are used for this purpose which calculates the necessary steps per day and / or calories in the diet and provide constant feedback to the individual to help achieve remission of diabetes.
The problem is that there is a lot of hype and false claims were made.
In most cases, remission occurred because weight loss is profound.
If people gain back the weight, as usual, diabetes always come back, often with a vengeance.
While some of my patients have been maintaining remission for several years, in most people with diabetes back and they need to take medication anymore.
Thus the long-term sustainability is a problem with the reversal program.
Re-reversal is a reality.
Therefore, it is important for those who have achieved remission for maintaining and continuing weight loss diet and exercise.
Most importantly, regular visits to the doctor is a must, because it is very important to continue to monitor the health of a person.
It is a mistake to assume that a person ‘cured’.
It does not matter if you do not achieve remission.
Some of my patients have celebrated his 100th birthday despite suffering from diabetes for 60 or 70 years and continue their medication for life.
Keeping your diabetes under control and went for a routine checkup is key to living a long and healthy despite diabetes.
(The writer is chairman and consultant diastetologis at Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Center, Chennai) Email your feedback with your name and address to Southpole.teri@timgroup.com