I have recently spent more time in drugs stores than I would like helping my sister on her journey through (and hopefully to the other side of) cancer. Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens all had large diabetes sections offering support for a “diabetes lifestyle”—glucose monitors, lancets, blood pressure cuffs, medications, supplements and pharmacy magazines heavily supported by pharmaceutical advertising. Patients are encouraged to get their eye check ups, monitor their blood pressure, track their blood sugars, have foot exams and see their doctor’s regularly for better management of their blood sugars—all apparently sensible advice for diabetics.
But what if type 2 diabetes could be completely reversed? What if it wasn’t, as we believe, an inexorable, progressive disease that has to be better “managed” by our health care system with better drugs, surgery and coordination of care? What if intensive lifestyle and dietary changes could completely reverse diabetes?
A ground breaking new study in Diabetologia proved that, indeed, type 2 diabetes can be reversed through diet changes, and, the study showed, this can happen quickly: in 1 to 8 weeks. That turns our perspective on diabetes upside down. Diabetes is not a one-way street.
If we have a known cure, a proven way to reverse this disease, shouldn’t we be focused on implementing programs to scale this cure?
We used to believe that once cells in your pancreas that make insulin (beta cells) poop out there was no reviving them and your only hope was more medication or insulin. We now know that is not so.
Continuing misconceptions about what causes diabetes and our unwillingness to embrace methods know to reverse it have lead to a catastrophic increase in the illness. Today one in four Americans over 60 years old has type 2 diabetes. By 2020, one in two Americans will have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Tragically, physicians will miss the diagnosis for ninety percent with pre-diabetes or diabetes. (Below I tell you exactly what tests to ask your doctor to perform and how to interpret them).
From 1983 to 2008, world-wide diabetes incidence has increased 7 fold from 35 to 240 million. Remarkably, in just the last 3 years from 2008 to 2011, we have added another 110 million to the diabetes roll call. And increasingly small children as young as eight are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult onset diabetes). They are having strokes at 15 years old and needing cardiac bypasses at 25 year old. The economic burden of caring for these people with pre-diabetes and diabetes will be $3.5 trillion over 10 years.
If we have a known cure, a proven way to reverse this disease, shouldn’t we be focused on implementing programs to scale this cure? Unfortunately despite this extraordinary new research, the findings will likely be pushed aside in favor of the latest greatest pill or surgical technique because behavior and lifestyle change is “hard.” In fact, with the right conditions and support, lifestyle diet and lifestyle change is very achievable.
What did research show?
Reversing Diabetes: Can it Be Done in a Week?
The study, entitled Reversal of type 2 diabetes: normalization of beta cell function in association with decrease pancreas and liver triglycerides, was exquisitely done. The bottom line: A dramatic diet change (protein shake, low glycemic load, plant-based low-calorie diet but no exercise) in diabetics reversed most features of diabetes within one week and all features by eight weeks. That’s right, diabetes was reversed in one week. That’s more powerful than any drug known to modern science.
We know from gastric bypass patients that with rapid changes in diet right after surgery, within just a few days, without significant weight loss, diabetes goes away—fatty livers heal, cholesterol levels plummet. Some theorized it was because of changes in the stomach hormones related to the gastric surgery. Others, including the researchers of this new study surmised that maybe it was just the drastic change in diet. So they went about studying just the diet change without surgery.
They studied 11 people with diabetes and compared them to a control group. Through very sophisticated techniques including MRI imaging, they measured their blood sugar and insulin responses, cholesterol levels and fat in the pancreas and liver (some of the hallmarks of diabetes) before and after diet changes at 1, 4 and 8 weeks.
What they found was revolutionary. The beta cells—the pancreas’ insulin producing cells—woke up, and the fat deposits in the pancreas and liver went away. Blood sugars normalized in just one week, triglycerides dropped in half in one week and reduced 10-fold in eight weeks. The body’s cells became more insulin sensitive and essentially, in just 8 weeks, all evidence of diabetes was gone and the diabetic patients looked just like the normal controls on all the testing.
While this may be surprising to most, it is something I see regularly in my medical practice. With focused, strategic, scientifically based nutritional intervention, combined with exercise, stress management and sugar and insulin balancing nutritional supplements, many of my patients completely reverse their diabetes. And the side effects—more energy, better sleep, improved sexual function and weight loss—are all good.
What most don’t realize is that pre-diabetes and diabetes exist on a continuum and both dramatically increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, cancer, infertility, sexual dysfunction, depression and dementia. You don’t have to get diabetes to be at risk for all those problems. That is why it is so important to get your doctor to diagnose pre-diabetes early and implement an intensive lifestyle program to help you reserve it.
You may be at risk if you have extra belly fat, have a family history of diabetes, gestational diabetes, are in at risk ethnic group (Asian, Hispanic, African American, Native American, Middle Eastern), have high triglycerides (> 150 mg/dl) or a low HDL (< 50 mg/dl) or have high blood pressure.
If any of these apply to you or you have other cause for concern, here is what to do.
How to Reverse Your Diabetes
First, get your doctor to test the following:
- A 75-gram glucose tolerance test measuring BOTH glucose and insulin fasting and 1 and 2 hours later. Your fasting blood sugar should be less than 100 mg/dl and your 1 and 2 hour sugar levels should be less than 130 mg/dl. Your fasting insulin should be less than 10, and your 1 and 2 hour levels should be less than 35.
- Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dl and HDL (good cholesterol) should be over 50 mg/dl, and the triglyceride to HDL ratio should be less than 4. These ranges are meaningful only if you are on no medication.
- Newer cholesterol tests measure the size of your cholesterol particles and is very effective in diagnosing problems with pre-diabetes early. In fact, this is the only cholesterol test we should be performing.
And here’s the program I use for my patients to reverse diabetes:
- Eat a low glycemic load, high fiber, plant-based diet of vegetables, beans, nuts, limited whole grains, fruit and lean animal protein
- Vigorous exercise (fast walking, running, biking, etc.) 30 minutes 4-5 times a week and strength training 20 minutes 3 times a week
- Take a good multivitamin, fish oil, vitamin D and blood sugar and insulin balancing nutrients (including chromium and alpha lipoic acid)
Remember, pre-diabetes and diabetes is not a one way street and the solution is not at the bottom of a pill bottle or the end of an insulin syringe, it is at the end of your fork and in the shoes on your feet!
Now I’d like to hear from you …
Do you think diabetes can be reversed? If so, how?
What methods have you tried to gain control of your diabetes or weight gain? How have those methods worked for you?
Why do you think accessible, scalable, lifestyle solutions like these that actually reverse chronic illness are not more frequently prescribed in conventional doctor’s offices? How can we change this?
Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
To your good health,
Mark Hyman, MD
Thank you for sharing the information on naturally reversing diabetes. I’ve been looking for alternative methods for my father who is 85 years old and diabetic.
Would you have any suggestions on beverages that do not have artificial sweeteners for diabetics? My father only likes to have sweetened beverages and drinks the diet products which contain the artificial sweeteners.
Hi There,
If you go to http://www.bloodsugarsolution.com you can see a lot of food and beverage resources Dr Hyman suggests that are free of “junky” sweeteners. However as far as beverages are concerned, it is best to get back to basics and drink water. The body doesnt need anything but water so in times of healing and repair, we want to provide only the essentials. Dr Hyman would encourage your father to go cold-turkey on all the sugar. Here is some more info for you (and dad):http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/06/19/artificial-sweeteners-could-be-sabotaging-your-diet/
For more personalized nutrition advice, Dr Hyman’s nutrition coaching team would be happy to work with you on an individual level to help you reach your goals. To work with the nutrition coaching team please go to:http://www.bloodsugarsolution.com/nutrition-coaching/ OR call (800) 892-1443 to get started.
About 5 months ago my A1C was 6.9 and I was eating whatever I wanted and my total cholesterol was 270; triglycerides 285 HDL 67 and LDL 144; CHOL/HDLC ratio: 4.0 Non-HDL CHOLESTEROL 203. Then I went on a diet – lost 10 pounds (now I am less than 105 lbs) –took another blood test –and my A1C went up to 7.3 !!! My total cholesterol was 218; HDL 57; Triglocerides: 133; LDL CHOL – 134; now my chol/HDLC ratio is 3.8 Non HDL Cholestrol 161. there was 3 months inbetween tests. I am now checking my blood sugar a few times a day and finally it is under 125 every day in the morning – average 108 but it has been under 100 – as low as 88. I think I was not eating enough and my blood sugar was spiking at night and my blood sugar fasting was averaging 130-140. Since I started having supper my morning blood sugar fasting is lower. I am on Toprol 5 mg 1 x a day. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. I am not on medication for my blood sugar yet, but the doctor is pushing me to get on meds especially since my A1C went from 6.9 to 7.3 in about 3 1/2 months. Thank you, Julie
Please have a look at this (section 3) and this (section 4) of a related article. It will be of use to you as well as many others.
I had a fasting blood sugar of 123, was morbidly obese and tired of it. I heard about south beach which is basically eating good carbs and weeding out all the sugar and refined carbs, and tried it for 4 weeks, went back to the dr and my fasting blood sugar was 99, so it can be done. I think people who had prediabetes once are more likely to get it again than people who never had it though. I can still get over 100 if I have too many carbs the night before but I have been on average in the low 90s for over a year.
Please have a look at this (section 3) and this (section 4) of a related article. It will be of use to you as well as many others. Please feel free to interact either through mail or at the the Discussion page of the article.
Thanks for posting such a nice thinking, post is very good.
As i have been diagnosed with pre diabetes about 3 months back and i am really glad to read that diabetes is reversable but I have a family history of diabetes I am trying my level best to cut down on carbs and also doing brisk walking every day for half an hour . Dr Mark I would be very greatful if u would advise me what more to do
thanking you in anticipation
Saima
Hi Saima,
Thank you for your interest in Dr Hyman’s work. Because Dr Hyman cannot provide personal medical advice in this forum, what would be best for you is to look into Dr Hyman’s The Blood Sugar Solution at http://www.bloodsugarsolution.com and start there.
If you would like to make an appointment at Dr. Hyman’s UltraWellness Center in Lenox, MA please go to:http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com/becoming-a-patient/ When you are finished reading through the material you may call the office at After you have reviewed this, please contact our office to make an appointment. By phone, (413) 637-9991; by email, office@ultrawellnesscenter.com
For more personalized nutrition advice, Dr Hyman’s nutrition coaching team would be happy to work with you on an individual level to help you reach your goals. To work with the nutrition coaching team please go to:http://www.bloodsugarsolution.com/nutrition-coaching/ OR call (800) 892-1443 to get started.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this article: http://chriskresser.com/when-it-comes-to-fish-oil-more-is-not-better
I have taken fish oil for years in order to increase HDL and lower inflammation, but now I’ve quit taking it until further studies come to light.
Hi JC,
Dr Hyman supports the use of high quality, purified fish oil. For more personalized nutrition advice, Dr Hyman’s nutrition coaching team would be happy to work with you on an individual level to help you reach your goals. To work with the nutrition coaching team please go to:http://www.bloodsugarsolution.com/nutrition-coaching/ OR call (800) 892-1443 to get started.
One of the reasons that diabetes rates are “skyrocketing” is in 1997, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the federal government lowered the per se standard for diagnosing diabetes from a fasting blood glucose level of 140 mg/dL to 126 mg/dL.7
There is absolutely no proof that changing the diagnostic criteria has improved the health of the American public.
http://www.obesitymyths.com/myth8.2.htm
Dear Dr. Hyman, I went to my Doc for a penis fungus infection and they found that my BG was 285 4 weeks ago. I came to learn that they did not inform me that my last physical (sept 2012) my BG ws 170, I am 46 and was 275 lbs back then, at the Doc’s visit I was 265, my BP was 140/82, she branded me type 2 and prescribed a BP pill and Glucose lowering pill. I decided to follow a Diet pretty similar to what you recommend and started going to the gym for an hour every morning and a MTB ride most evenings.
it took me 5 days to be below 120, and 6 more to go below 100, I been seating there for the last 10 days, between 84 and 98. I gave blood and my hemoglobin was 17.5, my total cholesterol was 193 and my BP was 115/74. I have lost 18 lbs since my Doc’s visit. I feel that the 285 BG was caused because I had binged on sweets the previous day and was not on an empty stomach.
Can you recommend a doctor that focuses on nutrition/exercise in the south San Diego area? I greatly appreciate it.
Hi Geo T.,
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine, who may have a recommendation, in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine website: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
Hey Doc
I am 29 years old . I was diagnosed with diabetes a month ago and was devastated by the news. I am on metformin now. I would really like to reverse this condition and lead a normal life. I am ready to go to any extend to reverse this. I asked my nurse whether I would be able to discontinue the medicine in the future if I lead a healthy lifestyle , she said NO. This article has made me think it is possible. Please help me out. Thank you
Juliya,
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
Hey
Was that an automated message? I did not understand you. I have not mentioned any symptoms. I live in london and there is no other way than the internet that we could communicate.
I checked my BG before going to bed at night it was 5.9 and then in the morning when i checked it was 6.2. It did not make any sense to me. I didn’t even drink water before I checked.Would you be able to tell me y the fluctuation .Thank you
I have a question. First let me say, I am working with a dr on this issue so am not looking for specific medial advise. I just want ask if you have come across similar circumstances where it appears that stress alone am be the cause of a potential pre-diabetic diagnosis.
I am a certified personal trainer and groupmx instructor. I have long bee following an extremely healthy lifestyle including working out (weights and cardio) 7 days a week 1-2 hours a day in addition to healthy eating habits: lean protein, vegetables, nuts, fruits, extremely limited dairy and wheat and processed foods. Stress has been extremely high along with a type a personality. Over the past six years I have experienced numerous life experiences that are stressful (like over 10 major events).
I can’t eat any healthier or exercise any more than I am…it is just hard for me to believe that stress could be the sole culprit!!?? Any thoughts
Hi Schyler,
We cannot offer medical advice over the internet, please see: http://drhyman.com/blog/tag/stress/ for other articles on the topic that may be of help to you.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
Greetings! I’ve been following your internet site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Texas! Just needed to mention keep up the fantastic work!