Type 2 diabetes affects more than 10% of people in the United States and is a risk factor for other serious health conditions like heart disease, neuropathy (nerve damage), and kidney disease.
Unfortunately, you can’t reverse type 2 diabetes, but you can put it in remission. At MS Family Medicine Health Care, PC, in Mineola and Rosedale, New York, Dr. Michele Reed and our family medicine team specialize in diabetes management and tailor treatment plans to help our patients take charge of their diabetes and health.
Here, we explain how we can help you gain control over your type 2 diabetes, putting it in remission and reducing your risk of complications.
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose is higher than normal. Glucose comes from the food you eat and serves as energy for your cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from the blood into the cell.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and develops from problems with insulin function or a decrease in insulin production. It usually starts with insulin resistance, which is when your cells no longer respond to the actions of insulin, and glucose remains in your blood.
As your blood glucose rises, your body secretes more insulin to help normalize your blood glucose. The need for more insulin takes a toll on the cells that produce the hormone, leading to a decline in production.
Anyone can develop type 2 diabetes at any age. However, it’s more common in overweight and obese individuals, people with a family history of diabetes, and adults 45 and older.
Before type 2 diabetes, many people may have prediabetes with higher than normal blood sugar levels but not too high for a diabetes diagnosis. Unlike type 2 diabetes, prediabetes is reversible.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that’s with you for life. Though it’s possible for people with the disease to maintain normal blood glucose levels for long periods, there’s no guarantee the levels will remain normal.
That being said, improving your blood glucose may reduce or eliminate your reliance on diabetes medications and prevent or delay potential diabetes complications. You may not be able to reverse the disease, but you can put it in remission, benefitting your current and future health.
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to put type 2 diabetes in remission.
Semaglutide, a medication we prescribe to treat type 2 diabetes, also helps with weight loss. It works best when combined with a lifestyle plan that includes:
As wellness and preventive care specialists, we help our patients make lifestyle changes that improve blood glucose levels, support a healthy weight, and put them back in control of their well-being.
Even though type 2 diabetes can’t be reversed, we can help you take control of your disease and potentially reduce your risk of future complications.
Are you ready to take charge of your health and put your type 2 diabetes in remission? We’re here to help. Call our office today or request an appointment online to get started.
