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Dear Dr. E,
I’m newly diagnosed with diabetes and trying to understand if this is something I’m going to be dealing with for the rest of my life. Some things I’m reading say you can get rid of diabetes, but others say you can’t. What’s the truth?
This is hands-down the #1 question patients ask me at their first appointment…or even if they bump into me at Costco. I wish I could say, “Yes! Take the magic pill in aisle 7 and boom – diabetes gone!”
While there’s no way to “get rid of” diabetes (type 1 or type 2), there is a path toward diabetes remission for those with type 2. “Remission” is the word I prefer to use over “reversed” or “cured”.
The burden of type 1 diabetes can be significantly reduced until we do have a cure…which really and truly could be coming within the next five years. Mark my words!
In order to answer this question more thoroughly though, we have to look at each type of diabetes separately.
Can You Get Rid of Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which means your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas. Once those cells are gone, your body can’t make insulin anymore.
I do believe that a functional cure for type 1 diabetes will be realized by the end of this decade. Research in stem cells, islet cell transplantation, gene therapy, and other cutting-edge approaches is moving faster than ever, and the results look incredibly promising.
While we can’t get rid of type 1 diabetes right now, what can be changed is the burden of living with it. Over the past decade, we’ve seen enormous advancements, including:
- Automated insulin delivery systems (hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps + CGMs) and integrations that help keep glucose in range with less user input
- Smart insulin pens that help with dose calculations and tracking
- Faster-acting insulins and inhaled insulin
- Disease-modifying and early intervention therapies like Tzield
Today, someone with type 1 diabetes can live a long, healthy, active life with fewer daily hassles than ever before.
Can You Get Rid of Type 2 Diabetes?
Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can often be improved or even put into remission with weight loss, increased physical activity, and nutritional changes, returning metabolism to a completely normal state. Notice I said “diabetes remission” and not “cure”, because even if your glucose levels return to normal, your underlying tendency toward high blood sugar still exists.
In the earlier stages of type 2 diabetes, your body is typically really responsive to caloric restriction and exercise, and you may be able to get off all your medications and have completely normal numbers.
Medications like GLP-1 RAs and SGLT2 inhibitors can also reduce glucose levels and support weight loss, making diabetes remission more achievable.
It’s important to know that some people may never achieve diabetes remission even with major lifestyle changes…there are often factors involved beyond their control. That doesn’t mean they did anything wrong. What matters is that diabetes management can almost always be improved, and people have more tools today than ever before.
Key Takeaways
So, can you get rid of diabetes?
While type 1 diabetes can’t be eliminated, the goal is to make life easier, safer, and more predictable as research moves toward transformative treatments.
For those with type 2 diabetes, remission is possible. How can you “get rid” of diabetes? Early intervention, lifestyle strategies like diet and exercise, and modern treatment therapies give people more opportunities to improve their health than ever before.
The bottom line is that there is always hope, progress, and something new on the horizon.
And if you do bump into me in line at Costco, the madeleines and bourbon in my cart are for a friend!
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