My Path to Type 2 Diabetes Remission

By Nikki Nurse

3 min read

I have been living with type 2 diabetes since I was diagnosed in 2017 with an A1C of 12.5. However, on November 1, 2023, my A1C results dropped to 6.2. I am now considered someone with prediabetes.

From type 2 diabetes to prediabetes

In my years-long journey with managing type 2 diabetes, I have constantly been reminded that taking small steps towards a healthier lifestyle could lead to significant changes. I attribute these various lifestyle changes as factors that led to the remission of my type 2 diabetes. This has proved to be true for me. I saw my A1C results gradually improve over time! Let me tell you, life in the prediabetes zone is fantastic!

Small changes made a big difference

I know how hard it can be to manage your blood sugar levels, deal with medication, and deal with symptoms. Trust me, this improvement in my A1C did not happen overnight. It certainly was not easy, especially after being disabled from breaking both my feet in 2017. Still, I had to make some significant lifestyle changes. Some changes I made included:

Establishing a regular meditation practice
Focusing on nutrition
Adhering to medications
Exercising regularly

However, one of the most critical factors in controlling my diabetes was education.

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Stress and its impact on blood sugar

I learned how stress and different foods can affect my blood sugar levels. Due to my injury, I wanted to be very mindful of the changes I was making. So, I focused on the support and expertise of professionals like a psychiatrist and nutritionist (dietitian). Through this, I deeply understood my body and how it responds to different stimuli that can affect my glucose levels.

With the help of my psychiatrist, I learned healthy strategies to manage my stress and anxiety levels, which in turn helped me maintain stable blood sugar levels.

My dietitian educated me on the importance of a balanced diet and how various food groups can affect my diabetes differently. This knowledge has allowed me to make wiser meal choices, leading to better control over my blood sugar levels.

Medication management

I also learned about the importance of proper medication management and regular exercise to control my diabetes. With the help of my doctor, I found the proper medication that worked for me and kept my blood sugar levels in check.

Diabetes medications in my treatment plan

Initially, I was prescribed a combination of medications from Metformin, Glipizide, and Januvia for my diabetes. With time and lifestyle changes, I was able to reduce my medication dosage gradually. I am currently only on compound semaglutide and have been since August 2023.

Finding exercise that works for me

Additionally, regular exercise has been a crucial part of my journey towards reversing my diabetes. Not only does it help me maintain a healthy weight, but it also helps regulate my nervous system. Starting my exercise journey with short walks, I soon incorporated a personal trainer to educate me on the best regular exercise to add to my routine, improving my overall health and well-being.

Empowered with education and lifestyle changes

Living with type 2 diabetes is not easy and can even be scary, but with proper education, medication management, and lifestyle changes, it is possible to empower yourself and make improvements.

I am now living a healthier and happier life in the prediabetes zone, and my A1c results are proof of how far I have come. My journey has taught me that taking small steps towards a healthier lifestyle can lead to significant changes, and I believe this holds true for everyone. So don't be afraid to educate yourself, make necessary changes, and take control of your diabetes!

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Type2Diabetes.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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FatCatAnna Member
Nikki - this is the best news ever!!! Educating ourselves (especially with this great community here) and advocating is what I hope for all of us. You know, I'm a bit of a lurker here, as a T1D of almost 60 years, but I've learned so much from you and others. Living with diabetes isn't easy, but when we learn how to make it work, we come out ahead. Am just smiling away here from afar with this story!
lauren.mullin Community Admin
<inline-mention username="FatCatAnna" user-id="3555464"/>, we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed this article, we are lucky to have you as a member of this community. I see that you stated you have T1D, how are you doing day to day? Wishing you all the best, Lauren (Team member)
SweetEnough Member
Congratulations and keep up the good work. Diabetes like a Christmas puppy is for ever even when it's reversed it's lurking waiting to pounce when the conditions are right. Proper medication management and diet and exercise are the three legs of the diabetes stool. If people don't think medication is important they should just stop their meds for one day and watch their blood glucose soar. In fact the one way I realise that I've forgotten to take my Gliclazide in the morning is when my bgs go way up by dinner in the afternoon! I would sound some notes of caution however on some aspects of what you say. First every diabetic is different and each of us has to find the best way to manage our diabetes the best being through regular testing of our blood glucose. Second you may have a good nutritionist but sadly many nutritionists; knowledge of the best foods for diabetics is poor and the only way to counteract this is to test our blood for different foods at different times.
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 Those are some good points, <inline-mention username="SweetEnough" user-id="4506842"/>. This is the author's experience. Her article is great inspiration for others who want to achieve remission and that seems to be her intention, to offer hope to others. Dietary and lifestyle changes will not impact everyone the same, but this is a wonderful example of how time and perservence can help. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
Jlk2447 Member
 Excellent - well done. I had a similar experience. My A1C went to 6.1....wife had some medical issues so our diet went to a not good state. One of my students is a dietician and she recommended joining a diabetic support group and those are easy to find on the internet. One of the resources was most states have a Diabetes Prevention and Education classes. The ones in Virginia are with UVA Medical Center. These have really good information on diet, exercise, reading labels, lifestyle changes, medication and management. Look up one in your state/local area. I immediately changed my diet to reduce sweets, remove added sugar from diet as much as possible, eating better foods and avoiding high glycemic index/load foods. Over 3 months I lost 25 lb and my A1C dropped to 5.7. I was a little disappointed it only dropped .4 but that was good. My daughter told me that now with the 25 less lbs, the A1C can reduce at little more keeping on the same diet. 
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 Congratulations, <inline-mention username="Jlk2447" user-id="8537225"/>! That is significant progress. The A1C gives a snapshot of blood sugar levels over time. Since your levels were probably a bit higher at the beginning of the dietary changes, you might see a lower number after another three months pass. Keep up the great work! - Lori (Team Member)
SweetEnough Member
An important point to bear in mind is that as we get older the diabetes can (and I stress "can&quot😉 become more difficult to manage. I say this not to rain on anyone's parade but to be prepared for such an eventuality and thus avoid disappointment or depression when or if the diabetes comes back and it becomes more difficult to keep those bgs in range. I've been diabetic for just over 26 years and possibly undiagnosed for seven years previous and at the beginning it was very easy to keep my bgs in range but when I look back on my diary I find that twenty years ago I could eat many foods that now I can't. Also now I have to exercise or walk every day and eat a very low carb diet. There could be a way around this by upping my meds but I'm reluctant to do that because meds like herbal supplements have to treated with caution and in the case of meds I'll only up them if it becomes clear that diet and exercise alone is not going to solve the problem.
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 Thanks for that reminder, <inline-mention username="SweetEnough" user-id="4506842"/>. Diabetes is a progressive disease, so it might take more work to stay off medications with dietary and lifestyle changes alone, and there is certainly no shame in eventually needing medication. If you need it, you need it. - Lori (Team Member)
2. Diane Talbert Moderator & Contributor
 Hello <inline-mention username="SweetEnough" user-id="4506842"/>, Thanks for sharing some great information. I have had T2D for 30 years. I lost weight, ate right, and exercised. I was able to get off medication for a short while, but my numbers crept back up. I do watch my numbers very carefully. And you're right, the older we get the harder it gets. I am 66 now and don't want to take a lot of medication either. I see you say you are on a very low-carb diet. This seems to be the hard part for me. Did you give up any type of food altogether? I would like to hear from you. Diane (Team Member)
SweetEnough Member
I think I eat quite well. Foods I don't eat or only eat on special occasions such as Christmas/Easter/Birthday/a few other special occasions. All root vegetables except carrots, turnips, swedes, kohl rabi and only in small amounts eg less that 100g and not every day. Leeks Onions except for gravies etc Butternut Squash Pasta Rice and other cereals Milk and single cream Skimmed milk - too high in carbs Cakes, biscuits, and savoury pastries except home made low carb ones. Ice cream unless sweetened with erythritol or similar zero carb sweetener but not the artificial sweeteners Anything with flour in it All fruits except cranberries, raspberries and strawberries and then I don't go crazy. Also blueberries but care needs to be taken with them. Things I do eat. Lamb Beef Pork All fowl Offal Fish Tinned fish Ham Bacon Other processed meats such as sausages, bacon, salamis, pates but where the carbs are low eg ideally less than 4g Eggs Celery Cabbage Brussels Sprouts but care needs to be taken they are moderately high in carbs Broccoli again care needs to be taken Mushrooms which surprisingly have some carbs in them so can't be eaten in large amounts Other fungi such as Shittake also have a fair amount of carbs in them Lettuce Tomatoes Cucumber Raddish Courgettes Cho cho Avocado All forms of cheeses Soya milk (great for milkshakes) Soya Yoghurt Double cream Bovril although there are some carbs in it Marmite Smoke salmon etc All these are in no particular order of how much carbs they have. Even if they are low or lowish the portion size will depend on the carb content. I bake low carb cakes, biscuits and cheesecakes and whilst sometimes they have an acquired taste they are for me an acceptable substitute for the high carb varieties. So dinners are fine, breakfast and supper can be a bit more challenging to make interesting. 
1. Diane Talbert Moderator & Contributor
 Hello <inline-mention username="SweetEnough" user-id="4506842"/> , thanks for sharing some of your journey with us. I think we both like the same foods. This is a great list. Do you have to take any medications to control your diabetes? We would like to hear more from you. Diane (Team Member)
CommunityMember4a0a8e Member
I'm very happy to have found this forum!
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 Welcome to the community, <inline-mention username="CommunityMember4a0a8e" user-id="6900981"/>! We're glad you found us. Are you new to type 2 diabetes or a veteran? Best wishes! - Lori (Team Member) 
2. Diane Talbert Moderator & Contributor
 Hello <inline-mention username="CommunityMember4a0a8e" user-id="6900981"/> , We are so glad to have you here. One thing I have learned in life is that sometimes we need support. There is so much that we don't know and can learned from others. Are you here for yourself or someone else? We would like to hear more from you. Diane (Team Member)
SweetEnough Member
<inline-mention username="Diane Talbert" user-id="3607879"/> I'm on 40mg Gliclazide and 500mg Metformin. I was dx in 1997 and probably undiagnosed for seven years before that given some of the symptoms I had. Strangely I didn't have the classic symptoms of thirst and frequent urination but apparently I was told that was because I have a high threshold when it comes to my body dumping excess glucose in my urine. However I did have energy crashes, slow to heal wounds, itching in unmentionable places, peripheral neuropathy which has mostly gone and permanent neuropathy in my thighs and high body temperature in the early hours of the morning. Whilst I occasionally have some of the above problems they don't last long and are usually an indication that I've been naughty with my diet!
Diane Talbert Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="SweetEnough" user-id="4506842"/> Thanks for sharing so much of your journey with us. I got psoriasis at the age of 5. When I got older and was having the itching, wounds wouldn't heal and fatigue my healthcare team blame it on my psoriatic disease. When I got sick and had to go to the hospital this is when I was diagnosis with T2D. I had a notion that I did have it. My mom went into a diabetic coma at age 37 and died. By the time they figure all this out, my numbers were out of whack. Long story short, it took time, but I was able to get back on track. Diet was also a big part of my journey also. It was so good to hear from you. I am a big believer that we can learn from each other. Are you finding it hard to give up sweets? This is a big challenge for me. Diane (Team Member)
SweetEnough Member
Oddly no problem with sweets in general unless I go into robotic carb binge mode then I'm like a sweet predatory shark! Now if I get the urge I eat some chocolate or biscuits and (gross out warning) spit it out in the kitchen waste bin. Some sugar gets absorbed in the mouth even if I rinse out afterwards. Some people might say that this is a waste of food but 1) nothing in Nature is wasted and the food soon get broken down by various organism in the bin 2) it's better than getting high bgs which might necessitate costly remedies which in itself could be considered an unnecessary waste. I get occasionally mild psoriasis on my knees and elbows but not recently. It makes the joints a little stiff but it's mild and goes after a day or two.
1. Diane Talbert Moderator & Contributor
 Hello <inline-mention username="SweetEnough" user-id="4506842"/> and <inline-mention username="Lori.Foster" user-id="8402045"/> , I just loved the conversation you both had going on here. I'm having the worst time in my life than I have had in my 66 years on this earth. It's so funny how other people can bring you so much joy and not even know it. Just reading what you all were saying back and forth to each other, brought comfort to me. Thank you both for being a part of this community and for sharing. Diane (Team Member)
2. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 You are so kind, <inline-mention username="Diane Talbert" user-id="3607879"/>. I miss working with you on PsA. It makes my heart ache to think you are going through such a difficult time. You always do so much for others. I hope you know that all of us are here for you as well whenever you need us. Sending a whole boatload of gentle hugs your way. - Lori (Team Member)