Can Diabetes Go Away?

Symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased urination
• Increased thirst 
• Increased hunger, even though people are eating
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Sores/cuts/bruises that do not heal
• Frequent infections
• Darkened skin, often in the armpits and neck
• Numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet or hands (more common in type 2)
• Unexplained weight loss (more common in type 1)

Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks itself and destroys beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. 

Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes include: 

• Genetics/family history
• Triggers, such viruses
• Age: more likely to occur in children, teens, and young adults, though it can develop at any age
• Ethnicity: Caucasians are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes than African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans

Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle factors.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors, including: 

• Genetics
• Family history
• Occurs more often in certain ethnic groups: African Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islanders
• Lifestyle factors 
• Overweight or obesity
• Physical inactivity

Factors that can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes include:

• Age over 45 years
• Depression 
• Giving birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
• High blood pressure
• History of gestational diabetes 
• History of heart disease or stroke
• Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol or high triglycerides
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

The cause of gestational diabetes is not known, and it can be difficult to predict which women will develop the condition when they become pregnant. 

Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include:

• Age over 25 years
• Overweight/obesity
• Ethnicity: Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, South or East Asians, or Pacific Islanders
• Family history of diabetes 
• Prior gestational diabetes during pregnancy 

Diabetes is diagnosed with the following tests: 

• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test 
• A1C test 
• Glucose challenge test
• Random plasma glucose (RPG) test 
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

Diabetes is treated with lifestyle modifications and medications when needed. 

Lifestyle changes to manage diabetes include:

• Manage A1C (average blood glucose level over the past 3 months)
• Check blood glucose levels daily
• Keep blood pressure in check
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Don’t smoke
• Follow a diabetes meal plan as recommended by your doctor or nutritionist
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean poultry and fish, and low-fat dairy
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Choose foods that are low-calorie, low-fat, low-sugar, and low-salt
• Exercise regularly 
• Get adequate sleep
• Manage stress/practice relaxation techniques 
• Take prescribed diabetes medications 

Medications used to treat diabetes include: 

• Insulin 
• Meglitinides 
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors 
• Thiazolidinediones 
• DPP- 4 Inhibitors 
• Sulfonylureas 
• Biguanides 
• Dopamine receptor agonists 
• Bile acid sequestrants 
• SGLT2 inhibitors 
• GLP-1 receptor agonists 
• Amylin analog 
• Combination medicines, which may be made up of more than one medication in the above classes
• Women with gestational diabetes may need insulin or metformin 

If lifestyle changes and medications are insufficient, other treatments for diabetes may include: 

• Weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) for some patients who are obese
• Artificial pancreas