Can Diabetes Ever Go Away on Its Own?

If it seems like your diabetes diagnosis is a life sentence — you’re right. So far, there’s no cure for this widespread disease. Experts estimate that 37.3 million Americans have diabetes, and all desperately await a cure.

While researchers everywhere race to answer that need, Dr. Wasim Raja, our board-certified internal medicine specialist at Orange County Healthcare Center in Fountain Valley, California, has some encouraging news. 

Here’s a look at the different types of diabetes and an answer to the question: Will diabetes ever go away on its own?

Can prediabetes go away on its own? 

Yes, if you take action now!

Prediabetes is sneaky — about 80% of those with it don’t even know it. As its name suggests, prediabetes comes before full-blown type 2 diabetes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. It means your blood sugar is higher than it should be, putting you at risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

If you have prediabetes, you’re at a critical point in your health when you still have a chance to turn things around. Exercising, losing weight, and eating healthy foods can shift your numbers and help you prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Can gestational diabetes go away on its own?

Yes, and it usually does.

Gestational diabetes affects about 10% of women during pregnancy because the surge of hormones sometimes interferes with insulin production and usage. We can treat gestational diabetes to protect you and your baby. 

After you deliver your baby, gestational diabetes typically disappears, but beware — you’re likely to experience it again with each pregnancy, and you’re 10 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as you age. 

Can type 2 diabetes go away on its own?

No — but you may be able to reverse it.

Technically, there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, so once you have it, you have it for life. But there is a chance you can reverse type 2 diabetes or put it into remission. Here’s why.

In some diabetes cases, the beta cells in the pancreas responsible for insulin production are damaged. However, studies show that those beta cells may not be permanently damaged, especially in the early stages of the disease. Specifically, researchers found that belly fat reduction affected the fat storage in beta cells most significantly, and 32% of the study participants achieved diabetes remission after losing considerable weight. 

Can type 1 diabetes go away on its own?

No.

Unfortunately, type 1 diabetes indicates your pancreas can’t create enough insulin, the hormone that unlocks your cells and allows glucose to enter them and generate energy. Without insulin, the glucose remains in your blood (high blood sugar) and damages your body and its systems. 

Type 1 diabetes usually shows up during early childhood, but it can develop in some adults. It’s chronic and incurable — you’ll need insulin therapy for life.

Hope for diabetes

Get tested for diabetes and give yourself the best chance of reversing its tragic health effects before they get out of control. Contact Orange County Healthcare Center online or call our office today to schedule a consultation.