6 Diet Tips from a Nutritionist For Achieving & Maintaining Diabetes Remission

Introduction

If you have diabetes, the very thought of bringing your blood sugar levels under control without any medications may sound like a dream come true. What if we told you this is now possible? This is where diabetes remission comes into the picture!

Your diabetes is said to be in remission if you are able to maintain your HbA1c levels below 6.5% for at least six months with lifestyle modifications and without the use of any medicines. Since remission takes you off medications to a large extent, lifestyle changes, especially dietary modifications.

We’ve got you 6 diet tips from a nutritionist to help you achieve diabetes remission and maintain it.

How Does Diabetes Remission Occur?

To understand how diet can help you achieve and maintain remission from diabetes, we must understand how remission occurs. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the accumulation of excess fat in and around the liver and pancreas. 

When this fat accumulation is more than what the individual can tolerate, it results in abnormal functioning of these organs, resulting in an imbalance in hormone production. This gives rise to insulin resistance and, eventually, high blood sugar levels seen in type 2 diabetes.

So, one of the most effective ways to bring your blood sugar levels under control and send diabetes into remission is by removing the fat from the liver by achieving weight loss. Once the excess fat has been removed from the liver and pancreas, they begin to function normally and normalise blood sugar levels.

Diet Tips from a Nutritionist For Achieving Diabetes Remission

One of the tried and tested methods to achieve remission by weight loss is by going on a very low-calorie diet. This diet is a popular method and involves the consumption of 600 to 800 calories per day. This is possible by working with your nutritionist to create a diet plan that enables you to restrict your caloric intake or opt for meal replacement options.

Here are some ways that make following a very low-calorie diet possible and help you maintain your weight within the normal range for diabetes remission:

1) Portion control

An easy way to stick to your diet plan is by practising portion control. Overeating or excess consumption of food and beverages can lead to a rise in weight and blood sugar levels, affecting your attempt at diabetes remission.

This also applies to foods that are permissible for you. Since diabetes remission is always performed under the guidance of a team of experts, including a nutritionist, always stick to the portions recommended for you at all times.

2) Intermittent fasting (IF)

One of the key elements that can help with weight loss is expert-guided prolonged intermittent fasting. With an expert-guided intermittent fasting plan, around 45% of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus can achieve a medication dosage reduction or go into remission.

The key to maintaining your diabetes in remission is to continue following intermittent fasting under your nutritionist’s guidance throughout life.

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3) Eat within the given window

Intermittent fasting works on the principle of eating in specific windows only. Your nutritionist will determine the safest and most effective intermittent fasting plan for you. To achieve diabetes remission, you must eat within the permitted given window.

4) Keep sugar, fat and salt consumption to a minimum

Salt, sugar and fat consumption can contribute to weight gain and affect diet plans created for the achievement of weight loss. If you are looking to achieve diabetes remission and maintain it throughout your life, you must keep your consumption of sugar, salt and fat to a minimum while following the diabetes diet plan prescribed by your nutritionist.

5) Do not skip meals prescribed by your nutritionist 

All diabetes remission plans are carefully planned by a diabetologist and nutritionist to ensure the process is effective and safe for you. The goal of the nutritionist in a diabetes remission plan is to ensure you get all the nutrients you require for the healthy functioning of the body while keeping your caloric intake to a restricted number between 600 and 800 calories. 

It is normal for people to presume skipping meals can help them lose weight. However, in a diabetes remission program, this may turn out to be harmful to your health. So, avoid skipping meals prescribed by your nutritionist.

6) Maintain the diet and lifestyle after achieving remission and required glycemic control.

If you have been successful in achieving diabetes remission, kudos to you! Your goal now is to ensure prolonged remission for a lifetime.

This is possible if you continue to follow your very low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diet plan and intermittent fasting as recommended by your nutritionist. Any self-prescribed deviation from your maintenance plan can cause your blood sugar levels to rise, activating the condition.

While exercise is recommended for every individual with prediabetes and diabetes, there is no known role of exercise in diabetes remission currently. However, it is important to work with your fitness expert to include regular workouts in your routine.

FitterTake

Diabetes remission is a reality and achievable with the right help from your healthcare team. Following the prescribed very low-calorie diet and following intermittent fasting can help you bring your blood sugar levels within the normal range.

However, you must follow these dietary changes throughout your life to help keep your diabetes in remission. 

If you have queries or concerns regarding your type 2 diabetes, speak to us today! You can also give us a missed call at 08069450746, and we will get back to you.

Need help with diabetes remission? Sign up for our Diabetes Prime Program right away! 

**Diabetes Remission is the clinical term for Diabetes Reversal.