Will Losing Weight Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?

In 2018, Virta member Abbie lost her mother, sister and brother to diabetes complications. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes herself nearly 30 years ago, Abbie never really took her diagnosis seriously until her late sister made her promise to take better care of herself. After joining Virta, Abbie was able to keep that promise: She lost more than 45 pounds, lowered her A1c and reduced her need for several medications, being well on her way to diabetes reversal.

For every person, the ‘magic’ amount of weight you need to lose to reverse  type 2 diabetes depends on a number of factors. It’s important to realize that weight loss alone won’t reverse your diabetes, unless it is matched by a decline in your blood sugar levels. Still, those things often go hand in hand. Here’s what you need to know.

‍Defining Type 2 Diabetes Reversal 

Diabetes reversal means a person’s glucose levels have returned to a normal, healthy range below levels diagnostic of diabetes. At Virta, we consider diabetes to be reversed when a person’s HbA1c (a measure of your average blood sugar levels over the past three months) is below 6.5% without the use of diabetes medications, other than Metformin, whichcan be used for reasons other than blood sugar control. So if you have healthy blood sugar levels and no longer need diabetes medication, you have reversed your diabetes.

One thing to keep in mind is while diabetes can be considered reversed, it cannot be cured. Diabetes will continue to progress if you don’t maintain your healthy lifestyle changes. 

How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes? 

Reducing your carbohydrate intake is the most important tool for reversing type 2 diabetes, and significant weight loss often follows. Weight loss helps improve insulin sensitivity, which can improve blood sugar, but the exact amount of weight you need to lose to reverse type 2 diabetes varies from one person to the next. Reversing diabetes ill depends on a wide variety of factors, such as how long you’ve had diabetes, if you take medications to manage diabetes, your current weight, and if your diabetes is well-controlled. That said, there’s good evidence that losing weight and following a healthy, low-carb diet can help people gain control over their diabetes and even achieve reversal. There are dozens of Virta member success stories to prove it!

One study found that participants who lost a significant amount of weight — approximately 22 pounds — and sustained the weight loss for 12 to 24 months had high rates of diabetes remission. Based on the evidence, losing a significant amount of weight if you are overweight or obese is beneficial for diabetes reversal. Losing a smaller amount of weight may have less of an impact on achieving diabetes reversal. However, it’s essential to talk to your healthcare provider about the right weight loss goal for you.

How to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

So how do you reverse type 2 diabetes?

At Virta, we help our members make healthy lifestyle changes like embracing a well-formulated ketogenic diet to help our members safely lose weight and get their blood sugar levels  under control, which can reduce or even eliminate the need for them to continue to use diabetes medications. For many of our members, joining Virta was the crucial first step that eventually led to their diabetes reversal.

The Takeaway

If you are overweight or obese and have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, losing weight in a healthy, sustainable way can help you get your diabetes under control and even reverse the condition.

If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and want to live a healthier lifestyle, Virta Health may be able to help. By making healthy lifestyle changes in a medical setting with supportive resources like 1:1 virtual coaching, you can regain control of your health and feel like yourself again. See if you’re eligible for Virta Health here.