Any talk on Type 2 diabetes here?

What did your dr say? How old are you?

You are on two good meds to treat it, particularly the GLP-1s are game changers. Type 2 diabetes is absolutely treatable with changes to your lifestyle: diet, exercise, and probably most importantly weight loss which is a byproduct of the first two. I do not use the term cure because it is only a temporary relief and abandoning your lifestyle changes will allow the diabetes to return. Whether or not you can get off all medications only time will tell but both of those medications are not generally dangerous long term and may be beneficial. Assuming you are overweight, which is a fair assumption in T2DM, I would recommend you eat in a modest calorie deficit (Around 500 calories a day which would equal 1 pound a week. It’s important to track your calories, I use MyFitnessPal and like it), avoid all sugar and limit carbohydrates (to 25-30% of daily calories), and start exercising. A good starting point is 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day (brisk walking, riding a bike, yoga). Remember that engaging your muscles in exercise will directly lower blood sugar.

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Assuming you are overweight, which is a fair assumption in T2DM

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Not always the case, sometimes you can thank your family for passing it down. I'm 6'1" 185# and control it with diet and exercise. I eat low carb, lazy keto and exercise. I went from 6.8 a1c to 5.6. I know it's only a bandaid, but don't want to be tied to insulin like my dad

I told my story here before....

61 yr old. Diagnosed T2D on May 8th this year. 385 glucose and 12.4 a1c. I was put on metformin and glimepiride.

I read a book called The Glycemic Load Diabetes Solution: Six Steps to Optimal Control of Your Adult-Onset (Type 2) Diabetes. The book is from 2012 but most of the advice is spot on. It promotes eating a low glycemic load diet combined with cardio exercise.

I followed the advice. I started eating low glycemic which I now just call keto-like. I started by walking 1.5 miles per day...every day. Never skip more than one day. The exercise is important as it breaks insulin resistance.

After 3 months my a1c was 5.5 and now at 7 months my a1c is 5.1. I've lost 65 lbs.

I joined a gym this week now that it's cold up here. I do 30 minutes of cardio 6 days per week. I'm starting to work in strength training 4 days per week. My weight is staying the same but I'm building muscle and losing fat now.

My doctor has cut my meds in half. It's tough but if you're determined there is a path forward.

I expected this comment. yes if have a lot of muscle mass it’s not useful but that is a small percentage and it doesn’t likely apply to the op or other untrained persons. Also, BMI is not the topic of this thread

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Also, BMI is not the topic of this thread

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Yet you brought it into the discussion.

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Is there a way to reverse this with proper diet?

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Absolutely.

There's a big start up in SF dedicated to such. Their website should provide a lot of support.

Virta Health

My cheap advice is: whatever you do, DO NOT use the ADA (or the AHA) as a resource. I'm pretty well convinced that they exist to keep people in diabetes in perpetuity.

Here's but one example of recommendations from them:

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Peanut butter and whole grain crackers
Greek yogurt with berries and granola
Trail mix with almonds and dried fruit
Cottage cheese and berries
Whole grain cereal and milk

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The bolded is just stupid to tell a diabetic to eat.

Good luck!

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Starting January 1 my employer is providing access to Vitra as part of our benefits package.

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That is awesome. I hope you keep us posted on how it goes. I know of someone that was pretty accomplished in their medical career that decided to take the plunge there as a senior employee. They seem to like it so far.

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ype 2 is absolutely treatable and reversible. I was diagnosed in 2016. Granted I was 330 lbs at 5’11”. I got my diet and exercise in check, got down to 180 and came off all meds. I’ve kept my weight off for nearly 5 years now and have no symptoms of diabetes or pre-diabetes. You absolutely can do it

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Congrats, man, that is inspiring!

It's amazing the level to which that message is not in the popular consciousness. Instead, I feel like I see nothing but ads for diabetes management meds on TV all the time.

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Also, big pharma only makes money on medicine. It sucks, but it's human nature and the world we live in.

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Treating the symptoms makes much more $$$$ than treating the disease.