Diabetes Myth – Diabetes cannot be Reversed

It is well known that in obese people, Diabetes can remit by bariatric surgery. But what is increasingly being known is that a low calorie diet may reverse Type 2 Diabetes..A low calorie diet (different from dieting) includes substituting foods with healthier choices. This reduces the calorie content of food actually eaten and can help bring down blood glucose levels. Daily moderate exercises routine also helps manage sugar levels.Low calorie diets include an individualised diet plan where a combination of low calorie diet along with exercise helps a person successfully lose weight and helps lower blood pressure and sugar levels. Improvement is also seen in cholesterol and triglyceride levels.Low calorie diets are effective only in selected persons and require medical supervision. Speak to your doctor or dietician to know more. Ideal method of food preparation: sauté, boiled, grilled or roasted, steamed, pressure cooked.The primary benefits of low calorie diet are remission of Diabetes with minimum or no medication and improvement in glycaemic control (HbA1c less than 6.5) in people with uncontrolled Diabetes. The secondary benefits of low calorie diet include weight loss, improvement in lipid profile and blood pressure and decrease in doses of medication.Prof Roy Taylor from Newcastle University and other authors in India, notably Dr Anjali Bhatt from Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune have also reported that Type 2 Diabetes is at least temporarily reversible with a low calorie diet.Type 2 Diabetes may be reversed. However this is not true for other types of Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetes due to pancreatic damage cannot be reversed. Pancreas is surgically removed when there are tumours, cancers or inflammatory diseases of the pancreas. As a result, the person develops Diabetes after the surgery due to lack/insufficient amount of insulin.Foods allowed in low calorie diet:Calorie free beverages (green tea, lemon water with sweetener), non-starchy vegetables, herbs and spicesFoods to be avoided in low calorie diet:Bakery products, processed foods, junk foods, soft drinks, fruit juices, desserts, alcohol, cheese, butter or any other solid fat and red meat.