Remission position statement released

A Position Statement on type 2 diabetes remission has been released by DESMOND.

Just recently the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) and the Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) published a joint statement about reversing a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

DESMOND’s Director Bernie Stribling said:

“We felt it was timely to publish our standpoint in light of the recent high-profile research findings and ABCD and PCDS publishing their views on remission.”

The Position Statement is as follows:

DESMOND is primarily a behavioural change structured education programme which encourages people with type 2 diabetes to self-manage, and individualise their management strategies.

We consider that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach, and promote weight management as a key priority in managing type 2 diabetes. If overweight, any level of weight loss and weight loss maintenance, can impact day-to-day glycaemic management, disease progression, and long-term disease effects.

Desmond strives to support long-term behaviour changes for people with type 2 diabetes, which is an essential part of sustaining weight loss achieved and the benefits of weight loss maintenance.

We acknowledge the potential to achieve type 2 diabetes remission through significant weight loss, in people who are overweight. We consider this reinforces the messages around the importance of body weight in type 2 diabetes management.

We welcome the key messages from the joint ABCD/PCDS position statement, including the clinical definition of remission, and recommendations for clinical monitoring.

Regrettably, we accept that remission may not be attainable for everyone with type 2 diabetes, as diabetes duration is an important factor, highlighted in the ABCD/PCDS statement.

DESMOND continues to be dedicated to enabling people with type 2 diabetes to self-manage the disease.