Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

the Renal and Urology News take:

Type 2 diabetes can be reversed to a pre- stage through lifestyle changes, according to the European Society of Cardiology’s spokesperson Eberhard Standl, MD. At-risk patients can be identified with a simple questionnaire.

In recognition of World Diabetes Day, Professor Standl spoke of the dramatic increase in type 2 diabetes incidence worldwide.

“Globally, there are 400 million people with type 2 diabetes and a similar number with the pre- stages of type 2 diabetes,” he said. “The epidemic seems unstoppable but there is very good and strong evidence that people can stop diabetes with lifestyle changes.”

People who are at risk as well as those who have been recently diagnosed who wish to reverse their symptoms can be identified with a simple questionnaire that asks about age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, level of activity, diet and family history.

“Regular physical exercise is the most important thing you can do, followed by eating fiber-rich foods, limiting saturated fats and losing weight,” said Professor Standl. Patients who have been recently diagnosed should aim to lose about 5% of their body weight in order to reverse symptoms.

“There is no question that people who have had type 2 diabetes for just a short period of time can reverse it with a low calorie diet. This can be effective within 3 to 5 days.”