Semaglutide is one of the leading treatments for weight loss, but can it also help to reverse type 2 diabetes or prediabetes? That's what we'll be exploring today.
More and more people are being diagnosed with diabetes at younger ages, and there's growing interest in how early interventions and lifestyle changes, including weight loss medications like semaglutide, can help.
Let's find out what diabetes reversal means, how semaglutide works, and whether it can help to reverse diabetes or not.
Diabetes reversal is not a complete cure. However, it can mean achieving and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels without needing diabetes medications.
This is most commonly seen in patients with type 2 diabetes who lose a significant amount of weight, particularly shortly after diagnosis.
Reversal is more likely early in the disease process, when the pancreas still has some ability to produce insulin. That’s why early diagnosis and intervention are key.
Diabetes reversal represents a significant improvement in blood sugar control and overall health.
Catching diabetes early on can make a huge difference to long-term outcomes. Over 4 in 10 adults with diabetes don’t know they have it. However, the sooner that diabetes is identified, the better it can be managed – and in many cases, reversed.
If left untreated, high blood sugar levels can damage vital systems in your body. This includes:
These can develop slowly over time, and often, without symptoms in the early stages.
If you pick up on diabetes early, you can slow down or even stop it from progressing. Changing your lifestyle can return your blood sugar levels to a healthy range, preventing type 2 diabetes from developing.
Prediabetes is a warning sign – it means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet meeting the criteria for type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes often goes unnoticed, and it’s estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the UK may have prediabetes without knowing it.
The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed. Losing weight, eating a balanced diet, staying active, and taking medication like semaglutide if appropriate, can all help bring your blood sugar levels back into a healthy range.
Having excess weight (especially around your abdomen) is a huge risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. This is because body fat, particularly visceral fat (fat stored deep around the organs), can interfere with how your body uses insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.
Over time, this insulin resistance can lead to higher blood glucose levels, eventually resulting in prediabetes or full-blown type 2 diabetes.
So, the risk of type 2 diabetes dramatically increases with higher body weight, and being overweight at a young age is a strong predictor of developing diabetes later in life (especially if the weight persists).
The more weight you gain, the less responsive your body’s cells become to insulin. This means that glucose stays in your bloodstream rather than being absorbed and used for energy.
In response to this, your pancreas will produce more insulin to compensate. However, your pancreas won’t be able to keep up over time, and your blood sugar levels will continue to rise. This leads to insulin resistance and, over time, type 2 diabetes.
Yes, you can assess your insulin resistance. Although there isn’t a single test that directly diagnoses insulin resistance, some of these tests are not undertaken on the NHS. Some private doctors may use several markers to assess it, including:
These tests help determine how your body is processing sugar and whether medications such as semaglutide could help.
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Yes, for some people (especially those who have been recently diagnosed), weight loss can reverse type 2 diabetes.
There have been multiple clinical studies that demonstrate that sustained weight loss can send type 2 diabetes into remission.
For example, the DiRECT trial found that nearly half of participants who lost a significant amount of weight through a structured, low-calorie diet achieved diabetes remission at one year. Patients who lost at least 15 kg maintained remission rates up to 86%.
Lifestyle change is key, but weight loss medications like semaglutide have made it easier than ever to lose weight and keep it off…
Semaglutide is a medication originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by mimicking GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone. This helps to:
It is extremely popular because it helps promote weight loss, marketed under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy. Semaglutide costs anything from around £139 to £200+ per month, and is a highly effective method of weight loss.
Here’s how semaglutide can benefit you if you’re managing or looking to reverse diabetes:
Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar levels in 3 ways:
This can result in lower HbA1c levels – a marker of good blood sugar control.
The SUSTAIN series of phase 3 clinical trials found that semaglutide reduced HbA1c by around 1.5% (17 mmol/mol) compared to placebos and other diabetes medications. Higher doses led to even higher reductions in blood sugar.
As established, excess weight is a major contributor to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide can lead to weight loss by reducing appetite and acting on areas of the brain that regulate hunger and satiety.
This makes it easier to maintain a calorie deficit. In clinical trials, many patients lost 10–15% of their body weight.
This weight loss alone can dramatically improve insulin sensitivity and reduce diabetes risk factors.
People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, semaglutide has been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), such as heart attacks and strokes.
This makes it a great option for people with diabetes who also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of heart problems.
➤ Learn more benefits of Wegovy
Yes - semaglutide can help to reverse diabetes and achieve remission, especially when combined with lifestyle changes.
However, please note that semaglutide is not a guaranteed cure for diabetes, although it can promote significant weight loss, improve blood sugar control, and help to reverse insulin resistance.
Looking to get started on semaglutide? Contact us or start an online assessment today.
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Dimitra lost 4 Stone in just 8 months
“I cannot recommend this programme enough; it truly works! It's the sole solution that has been effective after my long struggle.”
Lauren lost 5 Stone in just 8 months
“I would advise anyone considering this programme that it's a transformative experience. It has allowed me to embrace life and fully enjoy my twenties.”
Susan lost 5 Stone in just 12 months
“For the first time, losing weight has been both easy and successful in my life.”
Cadi lost 3 Stone in just 12 months
“If you're aiming to lose weight or manage polycystic ovaries, go for this program. It's undoubtedly the best decision.”
Ethan lost 5 Stone in just 5 months
“I’ve never felt so comfortable in my own skin. It's a newfound sense of confidence and well-being that has positively impacted every aspect of my life.”
Dimitra lost 4 Stone in just 8 months
“I cannot recommend this programme enough; it truly works! It's the sole solution that has been effective after my long struggle.”
Lauren lost 5 Stone in just 8 months
“I would advise anyone considering this programme that it's a transformative experience. It has allowed me to embrace life and fully enjoy my twenties.”
Susan lost 5 Stone in just 12 months
“For the first time, losing weight has been both easy and successful in my life.”
Cadi lost 3 Stone in just 12 months
“If you're aiming to lose weight or manage polycystic ovaries, go for this program. It's undoubtedly the best decision.”
Ethan lost 5 Stone in just 5 months
“I’ve never felt so comfortable in my own skin. It's a newfound sense of confidence and well-being that has positively impacted every aspect of my life.”
Dimitra lost 4 Stone in just 8 months
“I cannot recommend this programme enough; it truly works! It's the sole solution that has been effective after my long struggle.”
Lauren lost 5 Stone in just 8 months
“I would advise anyone considering this programme that it's a transformative experience. It has allowed me to embrace life and fully enjoy my twenties.”