Understanding remission in type 2 diabetes through lifestyle medicine
Explainer Film
“If somebody had told me remission was possible with diabetes three years ago, I would have been sceptical about it because I was really at a bad place in terms of health. I really got to the point of ‘ok, it can happen’, when I started seeing my numbers going down each month.”
— William Holdipp, patient, Cronometer
What remission means and how lifestyle medicine can support it
What Is Remission? is a short explainer film that clarifies one of the most misunderstood concepts in type 2 diabetes care. While diabetes is often framed as a lifelong, progressive condition, growing evidence shows that remission can be possible for some people through intensive, sustained lifestyle change. This film explains what remission is, and what it is not, using clear, clinically grounded definitions.
The film distinguishes remission from reversal, outlining how remission is defined by specific clinical criteria, including sustained reductions in A1c without glucose-lowering medications. It also emphasizes that remission does not mean diabetes is permanently gone. Ongoing lifestyle change remains essential, as metabolic health can shift over time and diabetes may return if underlying drivers are not addressed.
Drawing on the principles of lifestyle medicine, the film highlights the interventions most strongly associated with remission. These include moving toward a whole-food, plant-predominant dietary pattern, engaging in regular physical activity, reducing prolonged sitting, and supporting health through adequate sleep, connectedness, and avoidance of risky substances. Together, these therapeutic lifestyle interventions help improve insulin sensitivity, support weight loss, and strengthen long-term metabolic health — offering a pathway toward remission for some people living with type 2 diabetes.
