To complete our blog series for American Diabetes Month, today we will be discussing something that many patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes wonder about- how do you define being “cured” of diabetes? The American Diabetes Association has yet to come to a complete consensus on how exactly to define “cured”, however, the Association has outlined some parameters that are scientifically referred to as remission.

Complete remission

Blood glucose levels are always in the normal range (fasting glucose less than 100 and A1C less than 6.0%) for at least one year after surgery without glucose-lowering medication.

Partial Remission

Blood glucose levels are below the diagnosis for diabetes (fasting glucose lower than 100-125 and A1C lower than 6.5%) for at least one year after weight loss surgery without glucose lowering medication.

Prolonged Remission

No sign of diabetes for at least 5 years after weight loss surgery.

 **A1C: a test that measures a person’s average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months.

 Don’t miss the American Diabetes Month topics we covered earlier this month!
Gastroparesis & diabetes
Sleep & Diabetes
Tips for After Meal Highs

 

Source:
Diabetic Living (Summer 2013).