Remission Defined

In a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Greg, Edward W., et. al, 2012), one in nine people with Type 2 Diabetes were able to maintain blood sugar levels at normal or “pre-diabetes” levels on an intensive diet and exercise program.

NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE
HbA1c of less than 5.7% and Fasting blood glucose of less then 100 mL/dL

The study defines remission as no longer having symptoms of diabetes for at least a year (partial remission), without the use of medication. If your blood sugar has been in normal ranges for at least five years, you would be considered in prolonged remission.

According to the studies researchers, complete remission of Type 2 Diabetes is still very rare but the outcomes suggest that by making healthy lifestyle choices, remission is possible (Karter, 2014).

Remission means that compared to when you had high blood glucose (uncontrolled diabetes) you know have a lower risk for developing complications of diabetes, such as heart problems, kidney problems, foot problems, and vision problem. However risks will return if high blood glucose levels were to reoccur.

What does this mean?

Diabetes in remission may be a fact for individuals who choose to adopt a heathy lifestyle through physical activity, a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.

30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week, or 150 minutes per week, is considered regular physical activity.

Build a Healthier plate by monitoring your carbohydrates choices, eating lean proteins, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Consistent eating patterns and portion sizes are also helpful in maintaining a healthy diet.

You will want to work with your doctor to see how to continue to monitor your health and. Options may include:

• Continuing to monitor your health as you did when your blood glucose levels were high, or
• To monitor your health the same way a person who has never been diagnosed with diabetes would (Intermountain Healthcare, 2014)

For monitoring, see the chart on Page Two of this form.

Works Cited

• Greg, Edward W., et. al. (2012, December 19). JAMA. Retrieved January 20, 2015, from Journal of American Medical Association.
• Intermountain Healthcare. (2014, June). Diabetes in Remission. Intermountain Healthcare Fact Sheet for Patients and Families FS422.
• Intermountain Healthcare. Karter, A. J. (2014). Incidence of Remission in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: The Diabetes and Aging Study. Diabetes Care, 3188-3195.