What type 2 diabetes is
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose levels resulting from the body's cells becoming resistant to insulin — the hormone that allows glucose to enter cells for energy — and the pancreas eventually failing to produce enough insulin to compensate. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition, type 2 is strongly influenced by lifestyle factors.
Can it be reversed?
For people with early-stage type 2 diabetes, significant weight loss can achieve remission. The DiRECT trial showed that losing an average of 15kg returned blood glucose to normal in 46% of participants at one year. Remission means blood glucose in the non-diabetic range without medication — but the underlying vulnerability remains and remission requires sustained lifestyle changes.
Prevention
The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study and the US Diabetes Prevention Program both demonstrated that lifestyle interventions — modest weight loss of 5-7% of body weight plus 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity — reduced conversion to diabetes by around 58%.
Management
Beyond blood glucose control, people with type 2 diabetes need to manage cardiovascular risk factors aggressively: blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and smoking status all significantly influence long-term outcomes. Foot care and regular eye screening are also important preventive measures.