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What is diabetes remission?

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What is remission?MedicationLifestyle measuresSummary
With effective treatment, you can get relief from type 2 diabetes symptoms. This is also known as diabetes remission. But your symptoms can return if you do not maintain healthy lifestyle habits.
Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD
Written by D. M. Pollock
Updated on

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that develops over time. It causes your body to produce less insulin.

Left untreated, type 2 diabetes can cause fatal complications, so it’s essential to manage the condition.

By managing your condition with medication and lifestyle changes, you may be able to go into remission. Diabetes remission means you no longer need medication to manage your blood glucose. However, you still need to maintain healthy lifestyle habits to stay in remission.

It’s also possible to enter remission with type 1 diabetes. However, remission with type 1 diabetes is usually temporary.

Read on to learn more about diabetes remission and the medications and lifestyle changes that can help you get relief from symptoms.

What is diabetes remission?

Family sitting around a garden table eating dinner, to depict diabetes remission.
Ippei Naoi/Getty Images

Remission is a medical term that refers to relief from the symptoms of a health condition. Most often, remission is the result of effective treatment and condition management.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be able to enter remission with the right combination of medications and lifestyle measures.

There are two types of remission: partial remission and prolonged remission.

The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures the amount of glucose attached to your hemoglobin, a component of your red blood cells.

An HbA1c of less than 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) that stays for at least 1 year without medication or antidiabetic procedures suggests a partial remission.

Prolonged remission requires these levels to remain for more than 5 years.

Remission does not mean that your symptoms will never return. It’s necessary to continue your lifestyle changes to keep your blood glucose levels healthy.

Constant monitoring of your condition is important to make sure you don’t need to start taking medication again.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that attacks pancreatic cells, preventing them from producing insulin.

It’s possible for someone with type 1 diabetes to go into remission. Around 60% of people with type 1 diabetes go through a ‘honeymoon phase’.

During this phase, you may need less insulin than typical to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

This honeymoon phase happens when treatment with insulin starts, giving the cells in the pancreas a temporary boost in function.   

How can medication help you achieve diabetes remission?

If you have type 2 diabetes, a doctor will typically recommend a combination of lifestyle measures and medication to help keep your blood glucose levels within a safe range.

Medications that may help you achieve diabetes remission include:

  • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro): Up to 81% of people taking this medication go into diabetes remission.  
  • Sitagliptin (Januvia, Zituvio): This medication belongs to a group of drugs called gliptins. They help increase the natural substances that help lower your blood sugar.
  • Dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Forxiga): Short-term treatment of type 2 diabetes with dapagliflozin can help achieve remission after at least 36 weeks of treatment.
  • Metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage): A doctor may prescribe metformin alongside the medication SGLT2 inhibitor, as it can help boost your chance of remission by nearly 10%.

Need a refill for metformin (Glucophage)? You may be able to get an online prescription through Optum Perks in as little as 15 minutes with no video or appointment needed. Learn more here.

How can lifestyle measures help you achieve diabetes remission?

In addition to medication, healthy lifestyle habits can also help with prevention and remission.

Some of these include:

  • Exercising regularly: Regular exercise reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60% if you have prediabetes.
  • Monitoring your diet: A diet high in fat and carbohydrates may play a role in diabetes development. A high fiber diet can significantly reduce your chance of type 2 diabetes, according to a 2015 review.
  • Quitting smoking: Stopping smoking can help you manage your condition and reduce your chance of serious complications. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking can influence your ability to regulate your blood sugar levels.

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Summary

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition. Medications and lifestyle management can help you manage your symptoms.

For some people, treatment is so effective they go into remission.

If you have type 2 diabetes, a healthcare professional can work with you to create an effective treatment plan that fits your needs.

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