Can type 2 diabetes go away on it's own?
I've had diabetes for 5 years now. Recently, I was told I no longer have type 2 diabetes. I haven't changed my diet or eaten differently. I did lose 44 pounds to an illness and only gained 10 back. My sugar level had been climbing to 17 the highest. Should I contact my doctor because they took me off metformin? Can type 2 diabetes go away on it's own?
Expert Answer
For overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes, a modest 5 to 7 percent weight loss often helps to control the disease, but not make it go away.
Did you mean 17 mmol/L (European measurement which has an equivalent of about 300 mg/dL U.S.)or a 170 mg/dL U.S. measurement? In any case, those numbers are too high.
Yes, call your doctor to find out if you need to continue the metformin or change to another type of diabetes medication. A lot will depend upon your A1C (estimated glucose average for the past 3 months) and your medical profile (are your kidneys and liver healthy enought to tolerate a particular medication?).
When in doubt, call!