If you’re asking whether diabetes can be reversed, the short answer is that type 2 diabetes can sometimes go into remission, and type 1 cannot be reversed, according to Emory Healthcare. Remission is the term clinicians use for blood sugar that returns to a healthy range without diabetes medicine for an extended period, and it depends on keeping the changes that got you there.
Below is what the research says for each route, what each one costs and who it suits, and the questions to take to your next appointment so you can decide with your clinician.
What do “reversal” and “remission” mean?
Emory Healthcare says healthcare providers often use “remission” to mean that blood sugar returns to a healthy range without the need for diabetes medication for an extended period of time. A 2019 review in Diabetic Medicine, indexed on PubMed, discusses appropriate use of the terms “reversal” and “remission” and says that a term implying the disease is gone for good is inappropriate.
The number your clinician usually follows is your A1C. The NIDDK A1C test page says a normal A1C level is below 5.7 percent, and that the test reflects your average blood glucose over the past 3 months. To see how your number fits your age, read what should my A1C be for my age.
Can type 1 diabetes be reversed?
No. Emory Healthcare says type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed because the body no longer produces insulin on its own.
You may see stem-cell headlines. A 2013 preliminary study in Medical Science Monitor, indexed on PubMed, treated two patients under 8 years old who had been recently diagnosed with type 1. At 12 months, their antibody levels were negative and their C-peptide levels had risen. The study involved only two treated patients and called its results preliminary. Emory suggests people with type 1 may benefit from seeing an endocrinologist, so that is the specialist to ask about any newer option.
How much weight do you need to lose to help address type 2 diabetes?
Gerald Shulman of Yale School of Medicine says that in a landmark study, he and Kitt Petersen showed that modest weight reduction, even as little as 10 percent, may help address insulin resistance and with it type 2 diabetes. The Yale article does not give the study’s size, population or duration. He also notes that many people who lose weight at first regain it. The 2019 review says the chance of reversal falls the longer someone has had type 2 diabetes, so do not read the 10 percent figure as a promise for everyone.
For prevention, the CDC prediabetes page says losing about 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can lower your risk, which is about 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Ask your clinician which goal applies to you: lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes, or working toward remission if you already have it, and what target fits your situation.
Can type 2 diabetes be reversed permanently?
The 2019 review says long-term beta-cell function stays stable provided weight regain is prevented. It also says that if a person who was susceptible to type 2 diabetes returns to their previous weight, recurrence is certain. So the real goal is keeping the change over years, not hitting a number once.
The NIDDK says its Diabetes Prevention Program follow-up has shown people can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes for at least 15 years with lifestyle changes or metformin. That result is about prevention in people at high risk, not reversal in someone who already has the disease.
How long does it take to help address type 2 diabetes?
There is no fixed timeline. The 2019 review notes that the chance of achieving reversal steadily gets smaller the longer someone has had type 2 diabetes, so starting sooner matters.
An A1C at three months is a snapshot of your average over that period. It shows where you are, not whether the change is finished. The NIDDK says experts recommend that people with diabetes have an A1C test at least twice a year, so ask your clinician when your next test should be.
Can you reverse type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise?
Yale’s Patricia Peter says the best way to help address type 2 diabetes is to decrease your body’s resistance to the insulin your pancreas makes. For most people, she says, that means reaching a healthy weight, exercising regularly and minimizing sugars and excessive carbohydrates. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says research on a long-term dietary and lifestyle intervention suggests that remission may be possible for some people with type 2 diabetes.
On food, Emory Healthcare says healthy eating is one of the most powerful tools for controlling blood sugar. Following American Diabetes Association recommendations, it lists avocados, leafy greens, berries, nuts, beans, lean proteins and healthy fats, and it suggests drinking water instead of sugary beverages. For exercise, the CDC describes at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or a similar activity.
If you’re thinking about a low-carb or keto plan, read keto side effects and diabetes medicines before you start, especially if you take diabetes medicine.
What foods should diabetics avoid, and which fruits?
Yale’s guidance points to minimizing sugars and excessive carbohydrates, and Emory’s swap is sugary drinks for water. For a personal list, including which fruits fit your plan, ask a registered dietitian or your clinician, since portions and your medicines both matter.
Can supplements, traditional remedies or fruit fix diabetes?
NCCIH says that for a few supplements there is weak evidence of a possible benefit. Some studies suggest chromium, cinnamon or berberine might help with blood sugar control, but most of these studies are small and differ in dose and participants, so there are no clear conclusions. For most supplements, NCCIH says, there isn’t evidence of a beneficial effect on diabetes. Chromium can cause stomach pain and bloating, and there have been reports of kidney damage after large doses. For cinnamon specifically, read what cinnamon trials found (our research library).
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says that if you take antidiabetes medicine, taking chromium dietary supplements might cause low blood sugar levels. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about any supplement you take.
As of November 2026, the FDA page on illegally sold diabetes treatments says the FDA issued letters warning 15 domestic and foreign companies that selling their diabetes products violates federal law. The products include dietary supplements, over-the-counter drugs, ayurvedics and prescription drugs sold without a prescription, and the FDA says it has not evaluated or approved them as safe and effective in treating diabetes. NCCIH, describing the FDA warning, says the FDA cautions against products claiming to be a natural treatment or to “replace your diabetes medicine.” NCCIH also says these products are marketed illegally, that some are harmful in themselves, and that all are harmful if people use them in place of effective diabetes treatment.
What are the warning signs of diabetes?
The CDC says you can have prediabetes for years with no clear symptoms, and it often goes undetected until serious problems such as type 2 diabetes appear. That is why a blood test is the reliable way to find out, rather than waiting for a symptom list to show you something.
The CDC lists these risk factors for prediabetes: being overweight, being 45 or older, having a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes, being physically active less than 3 times a week, having had gestational diabetes, giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds, and having polycystic ovary syndrome. It also says African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and some Asian American people are at higher risk.
The NIDDK says you have prediabetes if your A1C is between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, or your fasting plasma glucose is between 100 and 125 mg/dL. Read the NIDDK prediabetes page for how these tests are used, and diabetes diagnosis next steps for what to ask at a first visit.
What does diabetes mean for your long-term health?
Patricia Peter of Yale says high blood sugar over time can damage your vision, nerves, heart and kidney function, and that the sooner blood sugars return to a healthy range, the less damage it can do. Shulman points to studies showing decreases in complications such as blindness, end-stage kidney disease and non-traumatic loss of limbs when diabetes is treated.
For your own outlook, including whether living to 100 is realistic for you, ask your clinician. They can look at your age, your test results and any complications you have.
Can diabetes be reversed in dogs?
This guide is about people. For a dog, ask your veterinarian, who can tell you what applies to your animal.
Diabetes options side by side
Here is each route with what the research shows, who it suits and what it costs. Prices and coverage change, so check the current cost directly with the company, pharmacy or insurer.
| Option | What it is | What the research shows | Who it suits and limits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight loss and physical activity | Lifestyle changes: modest weight loss, regular activity, less sugar and refined carbohydrate | Shulman says a landmark study found even 10 percent weight reduction may help address insulin resistance; the Yale article does not give the study’s size, population or duration. The 2019 review says the chance of reversal falls with longer duration and that remission holds when weight regain is prevented | Adults with prediabetes or type 2; regain is common, so ongoing habits matter | Depends on whether you join a program; ask the program directly |
| Metformin | Prescription generic diabetes medicine, per the NIDDK | In the Diabetes Prevention Program, metformin prevented type 2 diabetes to a lesser degree than lifestyle change; it worked best for women with a history of gestational diabetes, younger adults and people with obesity | Decided with your clinician; see metformin for type 2 diabetes | Generic; check your pharmacy for today’s price |
| Weight-management GLP-1 medicines | Prescription medicines that support weight loss | Yale’s Shulman says they can play an important role in helping people maintain weight loss over the long term | Prescribed and monitored by a clinician; check fit and side effects with them | Prices vary and coverage differs; check with the prescriber’s office and your insurer |
| Type 1 diabetes care | Care for type 1 diabetes | Emory Healthcare says type 1 cannot be reversed; people with type 1 may benefit from seeing an endocrinologist | People with type 1 diabetes | Ask your insurer or pharmacy |
| Stem-cell approach (investigational) | Treatment tested in a 2013 preliminary study | Two treated patients under 8 years old with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes; the study calls its results preliminary | Not a standard treatment; discuss any trial with an endocrinologist | Ask the study team directly |
| Supplements (chromium, cinnamon, berberine) | Products sold for blood sugar support | NCCIH describes weak evidence of possible benefit for a few, and no clear evidence for most | Check with your clinician first, since chromium can lower blood sugar with diabetes medicine | Varies by brand; check the label price |
Questions to bring to your next appointment
Write these on one page and bring it to your visit, so you can spend the appointment asking instead of remembering.
- Which type do I have, and how was it confirmed?
- What is my most recent A1C, and what target should I aim for?
- Do I have prediabetes or type 2, and is remission a realistic goal for me?
- What weight-loss target fits my situation?
- Is metformin a fit for me, and what should I know about it?
- Which supplements am I taking, if any, and do any interact with my medicines?
- When should I retest my A1C?
- Would a referral to a dietitian or an endocrinologist help me?
Your next step is simple: pick the two questions that matter most to you, write them at the top of your list, and bring them to your next visit.
By the Primary Care Visit Guide Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
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