Can it be cured?
Several studies claim to have found the cure for diabetes.
The problem is that every one of them has a different cure in mind.
And none of these possible cures will work for a vast majority of those suffering with the disease.
Gastric Bypass might help some people.
Gastric bypass is being touted as a cure, because the dramatic weight loss has been linked to near normal blood sugar levels.
But is not a solution for many people, and if any of the weight returns, so do the diabetes symptoms.
Surgery cannot solve the underlying hormonal and metabolic imbalances that are driving the diabetes and obesity.
Research has had some success with stem cells curing diabetes for some people.
Stem cell research is a possible future cure, but are not yet an available treatment.
Stem cells are cells that can develop into other cells.
This may one day become a viable option for helping to reverse or cure diabetes, but is still a long way off.
Islet cell transplantation improves life for the diabetic patient.
Islet cells come from a donor and are cells that sense blood sugar levels and make insulin.
Successfully transplanted islet cells make and release insulin in response to blood glucose levels and can provide more flexibility with meal planning and timing.
This can help to protect against longer term serious complications of diabetes such as heart disease and stroke.
But the patient must still take anti-rejection medications for the rest of their life, and will still have symptoms of diabetes, so it isn’t a cure either.
Some people look into pancreas transplantation for a cure.
This is a possibility for some people with Type 1 diabetes, but is not considered an option for Type 2.
This is usually done for diabetics who are in end-stage kidney disease.
With the transplant, blood sugar control would be at least partially restored.
But the patient will still need to take anti-rejection medications the rest of their life and isn’t actually cured of the diabetes.
No cure, but it can be reversed.
While diabetes cannot actually be cured at this time, there is hope.
It’s been shown repeatedly that losing even 10% of excess body weight can dramatically reduce fluctuations in glucose levels.
These reductions also translate to requiring less medication, and can sometimes even eliminate the need for pills.
But this weight loss must come about from actual lifestyle changes rather than quick-fix-it surgery in order to have a lasting effect.
Exercising every day has been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels, and it contributes to weight loss.
And making changes to eating habits in ways to balance nutrient and sugar intake will go a long way toward helping your body to regulate blood glucose.
While there’s no actual cure for diabetes, you can manage the disease with simple lifestyle changes.
And often, it’s possible to reverse the symptoms entirely, allowing you to quit taking your medications.
Sources:
everydayhealth.com/diabetes/type2/treating/specialist/getaneh-can-diabetes-be-cured.aspx
joslin.org/info/will_diabetes_go_away.html
webmd.com/diabetes/is-there-a-diabetes-cure
diabeticlivingonline.com/newly-diagnosed/getting-started/can-you-reverse-diabetes
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