Remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Emerging concepts and proposed diagnostic criteria

Abstract

The remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a topic that has been widely discussed recently, and it gives new hope for people with T2DM. Achievement of normal blood glucose levels or levels below the diagnostic threshold for T2DM without pharmacotherapy among people with T2DM after metabolic surgery and carbohydrate or calorie-restricted diet paved the way for more enthusiastic research in this area. There is a lot of confusion regarding the appropriate terminology and definition of remission of T2DM. In this short review, we briefly analyzed the emerging concepts and proposed criteria for diagnosing remission of T2DM, which will be helpful for healthcare providers and people with T2DM.

Keywords: Remission; Reversal; Diabetes; Mitigation; Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Core Tip: There is a lot of confusion regarding the criteria for remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as it is described differently by various professional bodies. Therefore, we proposed criteria that will be useful for healthcare professionals worldwide for diagnosing remission. Five components should be satisfied to diagnose remission of T2DM: Previous diagnosis of T2DM; blood sugar normalization or level below the diagnostic threshold for T2DM; withdrawal of pharmacotherapy or intervention and after its washout period; improvement in the pathophysiological mechanism; and the absence of any complications, comorbidities, or disease leading to a reduction of blood sugar or its normalization.