We know that diabetes is much more complicated than carbohydrates. It's diabetes, not carbetes. For a protocol to reverse metabolic syndrome/diabetes, it must be able to obtain and sustain normal blood glucose regulation, not just lower blood glucose.
Regulation means the body is able to stop unnecessary production of glucose, when it doesn't need it, and produce the right amount of glucose, when it does, while restoring insulin's normal pulsatile function.
2. Is diabetes reversed when you no longer need insulin injections?
The elimination of exogenous insulin is absolutely not reversal of diabetes, since Type II diabetics already produce a significant amount of endogenous insulin with no improvement to their disease whatsoever. Therefore, they never truly needed to be prescribed more insulin to begin with. Exogenous insulin is part of the 'Standard Of Care', but it is an incorrect approach for Type II diabetes. Because of this, it is not surprising that a simple lifestyle intervention would eliminate the need for exogenous insulin, all together, as it wasn't needed in the first place.
3. Is diabetes reversed when you can lower or reduce diabetic medications?
Lowering of diabetic medications is not surprising, as it's the direct result of lower blood glucose. If carbohydrates are partly responsible for driving your blood glucose high, what occurs if you eliminate them? Lower blood glucose. If these patients are continued on their same dose of medications, with lower blood glucose, they might die.
2. Is diabetes reversed when you no longer need insulin injections?
The elimination of exogenous insulin is absolutely not reversal of diabetes, since Type II diabetics already produce a significant amount of endogenous insulin with no improvement to their disease whatsoever. Therefore, they never truly needed to be prescribed more insulin to begin with. Exogenous insulin is part of the 'Standard Of Care', but it is an incorrect approach for Type II diabetes. Because of this, it is not surprising that a simple lifestyle intervention would eliminate the need for exogenous insulin, all together, as it wasn't needed in the first place.
3. Is diabetes reversed when you can lower or reduce diabetic medications?
Lowering of diabetic medications is not surprising, as it's the direct result of lower blood glucose. If carbohydrates are partly responsible for driving your blood glucose high, what occurs if you eliminate them? Lower blood glucose. If these patients are continued on their same dose of medications, with lower blood glucose, they might die.
The same goes with reducing the number of medications. If you lower blood glucose, medications must be reduced as well, especially when most diabetics are prescribed several medications, which all lower blood glucose. But, none of this is indicative of reversal, since diabetes is much more than just blood glucose abnormalities.
4. Is diabetes reversed when you have an HbA1C that is below the level of a diabetic diagnosis?
Lowering HbA1C, to below the range of a diabetes diagnosis, is not reversal, as the current HbA1C for diagnosing pre-diabetes is a whopping 5.7. Full diabetes is not diagnosed until HbA1C reaches 6.5. That is an astronomically high range for diagnosing a metabolic abnormality.
4. Is diabetes reversed when you have an HbA1C that is below the level of a diabetic diagnosis?
Lowering HbA1C, to below the range of a diabetes diagnosis, is not reversal, as the current HbA1C for diagnosing pre-diabetes is a whopping 5.7. Full diabetes is not diagnosed until HbA1C reaches 6.5. That is an astronomically high range for diagnosing a metabolic abnormality.
Getting your HbA1C below such high numbers is quite an easy goal, but does not mean you are disease free. Your Quest Diagnostics lab work might show green, but your pancreas is still all red. Any HbA1C above 5.0 is already abnormal. Any HbA1C that is low, while the body is still having erratic ups and downs in blood glucose, is irrelevant.
5. Is diabetes reversed when you are able to lose some weight?
Losing a little bit of weight, for an obese person, makes them less obese, but obese nonetheless. Excess body fat only continues driving metabolism towards metabolic syndrome/diabetes, regardless of temporary blood glucose "control". After all, blood glucose control is usually defined as simple lowering of blood glucose. This is most likely why diabetes is so hard to control beyond the first year. High body fat continues catching up with the person and causing metabolic dysfunction, as not enough weight (body fat) was lost. The reason that no enough body fat was lost, is because blood glucose never normalized enough.
6. Does low carb have any benefits, if it cannot reverse diabetes?
5. Is diabetes reversed when you are able to lose some weight?
Losing a little bit of weight, for an obese person, makes them less obese, but obese nonetheless. Excess body fat only continues driving metabolism towards metabolic syndrome/diabetes, regardless of temporary blood glucose "control". After all, blood glucose control is usually defined as simple lowering of blood glucose. This is most likely why diabetes is so hard to control beyond the first year. High body fat continues catching up with the person and causing metabolic dysfunction, as not enough weight (body fat) was lost. The reason that no enough body fat was lost, is because blood glucose never normalized enough.
6. Does low carb have any benefits, if it cannot reverse diabetes?
Low carb is a great strategy for taking control of your metabolic syndrome/diabetes. But, simply "doing better" is not reversal and many people get caught up in that trap. Metabolic syndrome/diabetes is not just about the glucose coming in, it's about the glucose coming out. Therefore, carbohydrate restriction only offers an incomplete solution, as it solely targets the glucose coming in.
The efficacy in low carb diets is in there long term, consistent adherence. They are not assurance for reversing diabetes, though some patients have truly been able to accomplish this. I reversed my pre-diabetes, but that is not indicative of the result you will obtain. You might just keep the disease from progressing or only acquire better control of your health. Reversal is the goal, not a guarantee.
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