Can diet help achieve diabetes remission?

Yes. Dietary changes that support weight loss and better blood sugar control may help some people with type 2 diabetes achieve remission. The approach should be personalised and guided by a healthcare professional.

What foods should I avoid during diabetes remission?

It is generally advisable to limit foods and drinks high in added sugar, unhealthy fats and excess calories. The right diet depends on your individual health needs and should be planned with a nutritionist or healthcare professional.

Is intermittent fasting safe for people with diabetes?

Intermittent fasting may benefit some people with type 2 diabetes, but it is not suitable for everyone. If you have diabetes, discuss it with your doctor before starting, especially if you take medicines that can cause low blood sugar.

Can diabetes return after remission?

Yes. Remission does not mean diabetes has been permanently cured. Blood sugar levels can rise again, particularly if weight is regained or lifestyle changes are not maintained. Regular monitoring and continued healthy habits are important.

How long does diabetes remission last?

The duration of remission varies from person to person. Maintaining a healthy weight, following a balanced diet, staying physically active and monitoring blood sugar can support longer-lasting remission.

Can exercise help maintain diabetes remission?

Regular physical activity can support weight management, improve insulin sensitivity and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It should be combined with appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes.

6 Expert Diet Tips for Diabetes Remission: How to Achieve & Maintain It

If you have diabetes, the very thought of [bringing your blood sugar levels under control without any medications] may sound like a dream come true. What if we told you this is now possible? This is where diabetes remission comes into the picture!

Your diabetes is said to be in remission if you are able to maintain your HbA1c levels below 6.5% for at least six months with lifestyle modifications and without the use of any medicines. Since remission takes you off medications to a large extent, lifestyle changes, especially dietary modifications.

We’ve got you 6 diet tips from a nutritionist to help you achieve diabetes remission and maintain it.

How Does Diabetes Remission Occur?

To understand how diet can help you achieve and maintain remission from diabetes, we must understand how remission occurs. [Type 2 diabetes] is characterised by the accumulation of excess fat in and around the liver and pancreas.

When this fat accumulation is more than what the individual can tolerate, it results in abnormal functioning of these organs, resulting in an imbalance in hormone production. This gives rise to [insulin resistance] and, eventually, high blood sugar levels seen in type 2 diabetes.

So, one of the most effective ways to bring your blood sugar levels under control and send diabetes into remission is by removing the fat from the liver by achieving weight loss. Once the excess fat has been removed from the liver and pancreas, they begin to function normally and normalise blood sugar levels.

Diet Tips from a Nutritionist For Achieving Diabetes Remission

One of the tried and tested methods to achieve remission by weight loss is by going on a very low-calorie diet. This diet is a popular method and involves the consumption of 600 to 800 calories per day. This is possible by working with your nutritionist to create a diet plan that enables you to restrict your caloric intake or opt for meal replacement options.

Here are some ways that make following a very low-calorie diet possible and help you maintain your weight within the normal range for diabetes remission:

1) Portion control

An easy way to stick to your diet plan is by practising portion control. Overeating or excess consumption of food and beverages can lead to a rise in weight and blood sugar levels, affecting your attempt at diabetes remission.

This also applies to foods that are permissible for you. Since diabetes remission is always performed under the guidance of a team of experts, including a nutritionist, always stick to the portions recommended for you at all times.

2) Intermittent fasting (IF)

One of the key elements that can help with weight loss is expert-guided prolonged intermittent fasting. With an expert-guided intermittent fasting plan, around 45% of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus can achieve a medication dosage reduction or go into remission.

The key to maintaining your diabetes in remission is to continue following intermittent fasting under your nutritionist’s guidance throughout life.

3) Eat within the given window

Intermittent fasting works on the principle of eating in specific windows only. Your nutritionist will determine the safest and most effective intermittent fasting plan for you. To achieve diabetes remission, you must eat within the permitted given window.

4) Keep sugar, fat and salt consumption to a minimum

Salt, sugar and fat consumption can contribute to weight gain and affect diet plans created for the achievement of weight loss. If you are looking to achieve diabetes remission and maintain it throughout your life, you must keep your consumption of sugar, salt and fat to a minimum while following the diabetes diet plan prescribed by your nutritionist.

5) Do not skip meals prescribed by your nutritionist

All diabetes remission plans are carefully planned by a diabetologist and nutritionist to ensure the process is effective and safe for you. The goal of the nutritionist in a diabetes remission plan is to ensure you get all the nutrients you require for the healthy functioning of the body while keeping your caloric intake to a restricted number between 600 and 800 calories.

It is normal for people to presume skipping meals can help them lose weight. However, in a diabetes remission program, this may turn out to be harmful to your health. So, avoid skipping meals prescribed by your nutritionist.

6) Maintain the diet and lifestyle after achieving remission and required glycemic control.

If you have been successful in achieving diabetes remission, kudos to you! Your goal now is to ensure prolonged remission for a lifetime.

This is possible if you continue to follow your very low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diet plan and intermittent fasting as recommended by your nutritionist. Any self-prescribed deviation from your maintenance plan can cause your blood sugar levels to rise, activating the condition.

While exercise is recommended for every individual with prediabetes and diabetes, there is no known role of exercise in diabetes remission currently. However, it is important to work with your fitness expert to include regular workouts in your routine.

How Can PB Health Support You?

When someone in your family needs care, you should not have to worry about what happens next or who is responsible for each step.

At PB Health Hospital, IFFCO Chowk, Gurgaon, we believe wellness requires continuity, coordination, and consistent follow-through. Our doctors and care teams work together, supported by technology that helps track progress, organise follow-ups, and keep information clear and accessible. From prevention to recovery, every stage is managed thoughtfully so that nothing important is missed and nothing is left unclear.

Explore our diabetes management programme for information about personalised care and ongoing support.

To understand more about our approach, you can visit our website, PB Health.

Conclusion

Achieving and maintaining diabetes remission requires consistent lifestyle changes, with diet playing an important role. Portion control, mindful eating, appropriate meal timing and maintaining a healthy weight can support better blood sugar control. However, diabetes remission plans should be personalised and followed under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Regular monitoring can also help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes returning.