Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key study I-DIAB-104 in-depth review
What 'remission' of type 2 diabetes means
Consensus Report: Definition and Interpretation of Remission in Type 2 Diabetes.
Overview
Riddle MC et al.. Diabetes Care 2021 · PMID 34462270 · DOI 10.2337/dci21-0034
Remission means HbA1c below 6.5% at least 3 months after stopping diabetes drugs; it is not called a cure and needs ongoing checks.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Define T2D remission.
- How was the study done?
Expert consensus.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable.
- What was actually found?
HbA1c <6.5% >=3 months off drugs.
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Remission is possible but needs follow-up.
- What are the study's limitations?
Consensus.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Qualifies 'cure'.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Co-published in Europe.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not applicable.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Riddle MC et al.
- Journal
- Diabetes Care
- Year
- 2021
- Identifier
- PMID 34462270 DOI 10.2337/dci21-0034
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
NIDDK grant listed (record).
2. Research question
How should remission of T2D be defined?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Guideline / position statement – International expert consensus (ADA-convened; co-published by EASD, Endocrine Society, Diabetes UK)
- Population
People with T2D
- Country
International
- Period
2021
- Sample size
Not applicable
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Not applicable
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Not applicable
- Comparator
Not applicable
- Endpoints
Definition
- Statistical methods
Not applicable
5. Actual results
- Results
Proposes 'remission' as the term, defined as HbA1c <6.5% (48 mmol/mol) measured at least 3 months after cessation of glucose-lowering pharmacotherapy; recommends continued active observation of people in remission; long-term risks and benefits not well understood.
- Absolute risks
not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
'Remission' rather than 'cure'; requires ongoing follow-up.
6. Strengths
- Current, evidence-graded recommendations
7. Weaknesses
- Consensus elements; partly expert opinion
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- not assessable
- Rationale
Guideline; graded recommendations from systematic evidence review.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Not applicable
10. Relevance to the specific claim
The scientific term is remission, not cure; it requires stopping drugs and continued monitoring because relapse is common.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Directly applicable; same biology and clinical standards in Europe.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Authoritative definition.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | high |
| Risk of bias | not assessable |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- Diabetes can be cured by following the Tayebat system without medication, illustrated by a patient who stopped insulin after 30 years of insulin use. – Studies with mixed or unclear results