During my 3 ½-year of undergraduate studies (which is not that long ago), we were constantly told that diabetes is a non-reversible disease. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you are stuck with it for life. Till death do us part, they say.
Fast-forward to today, anecdotal stories of people who “reversed” or “cured” their diabetes are sparking up hopes for the community. The latest story is that of Rob Kardashian who is now diabetes-free after eating his wife Chyna’s home-cooked meals.
The question that must be peeking everyone’s curiosity is: Can diabetes be reversed?
For people with type 1 diabetes, I’m sorry to break it to you guys, but medical advancement has yet to find a cure. The same cannot be said for people with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a preventable chronic disease that can be lifestyle-controlled. Weight loss, physical activity, and a healthy diet help to lessen insulin resistance. As a result, better glycemic control is observed. People who can achieve these lifestyle changes are rewarded with a lower dosage or even a complete removal of their meds. HOWEVER, being off the pills doesn’t mean that they’ve been completely cured of their diabetes: diabetes is simply being WELL-controlled. If their lifestyle habits get off track, diabetes can come back in full force.
Bariatric surgery is another treatment option for diabetes. While some may think that bariatric surgery is a kill-off diabetes solution, it is not the case. You see, bariatric surgery results in a change of gut-releasing hormones, weight loss, and lower food intake. People who “got rid” of diabetes should be on guard: if a healthy lifestyle is not maintained, diabetes can haunt them once again.
Using the term reversible or cure is far-fetched since it implies that diabetes is forever gone when in reality it is simply being well-controlled (or tamed if you like) and still lingers around. People who had bariatric surgery are “in remission” and are not cured of their diabetes.
