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Unlocking the Potential of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Remission.

Cureus · 2023

Last updated 2026-05-28

Research suggests type 2 diabetes may be reversible by addressing its root cause—excess fat in the pancreas and liver. Studies show that rapid weight loss through very low-calorie diets (VLCD) or bariatric surgery can lead to diabetes remission. Early treatment with intensive insulin therapy may also help recover β-cell function, which controls blood sugar. New medications like liraglutide and tirzepatide are being explored for their potential to reverse diabetes.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalCureus, 2023
Citations1
Relative citation ratio0.18
NIH percentile12
Molecules
Conditions studied Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes was considered manageable but not curable, but now there are methods by which diabetes can be reversed. The twin cycle hypothesis provides a bird's eye view on the pathogenesis of the onset of diabetes, which is necessary to understand for reversing the disease: it states that diabetes occurs due to a substantial accumulation of fat in the pancreas and liver, impairing the β-cell function. Thus, we can infer that diabetes and obesity are two aspects of the same problem. Thus, the key to diabetes reversal is to reverse obesity. Bariatric surgery has shown promising results. Diabetes remission can also be achieved by reducing calories. A very low-calorie diet (VLCD) results in rapid weight loss. β-cell recovery is possible if early-diagnosed individuals are treated with intensive insulin therapy. New drugs like liraglutide and tirzepatide also have the potential for diabetes reversal. Thus the age-old myth of diabetes being incurable is proven wrong.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 38094528 ↗