Even though the diabetes mellitus It is a disease that persists for lifeand its evolution is progressive causing over time a series of health complications if not managed properly, today it is said that This disease can enter a remission phase.
In an interview with Chronicle, Jacqueline Alcántara, diabetes educator, He stressed that we must be very careful with this term, since it in no way means that diabetes can be cured.
Diabetes educator Jacqueline Alcántara stressed that this disease is incurable, but it can be controlled to normal levels in people without this condition.
“The claim that Diabetes has a cure can be misleading or misinterpreted in some contexts.”
Control and healing are not the same thing
The diabetes educator emphasized that it is of utmost importance that people living with diabetes mellitus type II, keep in mind the difference between controlling diabetes and curing it.
“It is a complex issue that requires medical guidanceas well as the comprehensive treatment of diabetes itself, so diabetes education is essential to not to fall into myths or misinterpretation of concepts, such as ‘reversal’, ‘resolution’, and other terms that are not exactly synonyms, as they have other implications that can seriously impact the patient’s health,” he clarified.
Jacqueline Alcántara emphasized that it can be considered the diabetes remission in a patient, after a timein which the levels of blood sugar normalizes without the need to take medication.
“It is said that the remission is total if the level of blood glucose es inferior a 100 mg/dl and the hemoglobin glucosilada is for below 5.8% at least in two determinations.
Likewise, the diabetes remission is partial If the blood glucose level is between 100 and 125 mg/dl and/or glycosylated hemoglobin between 5.8 and 6.4%, while “the remission is prolongedif this normalization of blood glucose levels lasts more than 5 years.”
It is important to remember that diabetes mellitus is a chronic and degenerative disease that affects the way the body uses blood glucose.
In the case of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is usually the most common in the population, it originates when the organism is unable of produce sufficient amounts of insulin or, when it happens that the body’s cells do not respond to it, which is known as insulin resistance, and it is necessary for the individual to begin taking medications that help counteract this deficiency, and in some cases the use of injected insulin is necessary.
How is diabetes remission achieved?
He pointed out that Each patient with diabetes is uniqueand there may be some different implications for each person, since diabetes remission means achieving healthy blood sugar levels through balanced eating, physical activity and weight loss, without administering medication.
“This is viable for cases of type 2 diabetes, where even There is existence of own insulin, but its function is deficient in quantity or quality. Enter A state of remission is not the same as being cured.as there is a possibility that the symptoms may return.
In this sense, he pointed out that remission is entering a state of control “without the need for medication””, and where diet, exercise and weight loss are key to achieving it and, above all, maintaining it over time.
This control involves, in addition to healthy lifestyle habits, constant glucose monitoring to detect any variations and implement actions focused on reducing risk factors as much as possible.
Remission, but under medical supervision
The diabetes educator noted that the term “remission” implies that a person with diabetes, who has achieved decrease significantly its measurements of blood glucose, but may need ongoing support to prevent a relapse.
It is necessary to adopt and maintain permanently lifestyle changes and regular monitoring of your glucose, to allow treatment if high blood glucose levels return.
The best way to stay in remission is maintaining a balanced diet, physical activation, emotional management and pharmacological treatment, all supervised by the doctor and team of health professionals.
“When the patient takes responsibility for his or her condition and actively participates in its management, effective self-care is achieved, which adds to this monitoring and favors the prognosis of the disease.
Some achieve remission, others do not.
He stressed that no two cases of diabetes are the same, so it is probably Not all patients reach a state of remissionHowever, taking preventive and treatment measures tailored to each individual will mean an improvement in their glucose levels, which will lead to greater health and general well-being.
He recalled that to this day, the application of Insulin remains the optimal treatment of diabetes, of any type, which is why its use in early stages is widely recommended.
If it has already been prescribed, it must be applied using the correct injection technique, which involves using ultra-fine and short needles so that the insulin is deposited in the subcutaneous tissue (which is where it should act), rotating the injection sites, not reusing the devices, among other aspects.
Regarding stop taking your medications, whether oral or insulin application, he said that it can only be determine the treating physician together with the team of health professionals: if it is appropriate to do so, when is the best time, how to do it, so, he stressed, “A patient should not deliberately adjust or discontinue treatment without medical supervision.”
