Type 2 diabetes has long been seen as a lifelong condition. But growing research shows that for some people, significant weight loss can bring blood sugar back to normal levels without medication, a state called remission. A small study from China suggests a structured form of intermittent fasting may help some people reach it.
What is diabetes remission?
Remission means having blood sugar levels below the diabetes range without taking diabetes medication. In this study, it was defined as a hemoglobin A1c (a measure of average blood sugar over about three months) below 6.5% for at least a year after stopping medication. Remission isn’t the same as a cure: blood sugar can rise again, especially if weight is regained.
More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and about 90–95% of them have type 2, so even partial success could matter for many people.
How the study worked
The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, included 36 people with type 2 diabetes. For three months, they followed an intermittent fasting program known as Chinese Medical Nutrition Therapy, which alternated periods of very low calorie intake with regular eating days, under medical supervision. Their diabetes medications were adjusted along the way. Researchers then followed participants for a year.
What the researchers found
- Most participants reduced their medication. Nearly 90% were able to cut back on diabetes medicines.
- About half reached remission. Roughly half of participants achieved remission and stayed off diabetes medication for at least a year.
- Remission wasn’t limited to new diagnoses. Many of those who reached remission had lived with diabetes for six to eleven years, challenging the idea that remission is possible only soon after diagnosis.
- Participants lost weight and saw their medication costs fall substantially.
Keep the results in perspective
This was a small, short study in one population, and not everyone succeeded. Larger and longer studies are needed to confirm the results. It also used a specific, medically supervised program, which isn’t the same as trying a fasting trend on your own. Other research has found that different approaches that lead to substantial weight loss, such as low-calorie diet programs, can also bring about remission.
Fasting with diabetes can be risky
If you take insulin or certain diabetes pills, especially sulfonylureas, fasting can cause dangerously low blood sugar. Medications often need to be reduced or adjusted before and during any fasting plan. Fasting may also not be safe if you are pregnant, have a history of disordered eating, or have other health conditions.
What this means for you
- Talk to your doctor first. Never start a fasting plan or stop medication without medical guidance.
- Ask about remission as a goal. If you’re interested, ask your care team whether a structured weight-loss plan might help you.
- Monitor closely. Check your blood sugar more often when changing how you eat, and know the signs of low blood sugar, such as shakiness, sweating and confusion.
- Get support. A registered dietitian or diabetes educator can help design a safe, sustainable plan.
- Keep moving. Regular physical activity improves blood sugar control and helps maintain weight loss.
The bottom line
In a small study, a medically supervised intermittent fasting program helped about half of participants with type 2 diabetes reach remission. It’s encouraging, but fasting with diabetes should only be done with your care team’s guidance.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your individual needs.
