'I'm a diabetes dietitian - a simple diet swap helps most people reverse the condition'

Mary Ellen defined diabetes remission as the point where a person's haemoglobin A1C drops below 6.5 for three months or longer without medication.

"At that point in time, once you have confirmed your A1C has dropped back down below 6.5, you are considered to be in diabetes remission," she told viewers.

This definition has helped scientists unearth scores of factors that increase a person’s chances of reversing their condition, Mary explained.

Among the most effective is strict adherence to a plant-based diet. The dietitian clarified that this doesn't mean going completely vegan, but rather increasing the amount of plants that you're eating in your diet.

Plant-based diets play a crucial role in improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.

Indeed, a study published in the National Library of Medicine looked at plant-based diets for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

It said: "Cohort studies strongly support the role of plant-based diets, and food and nutrient components of plant-based diets, in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes."

The dietary approach addresses a fundamental issue in type 2 diabetes, as insulin resistance typically develops due to lipid accumulation within muscle and liver cells.

This build-up of lipids usually begins years before a type 2 diabetes diagnosis is made.

The dietitian noted that even partial adoption of plant-based eating can contribute to achieving remission.

Another key factor in remission relates to the timing of diagnosis, according to Mary.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Arthritis: Woman diagnosed at 17 shares three drinks to avoid for relief
• Dermatologist names two foods that make cellulite 'more pronounced'
• 'I would not be so mentally and physically sharp at 95 without my daily breakfast'

"If it was less than two years since your diagnosis then you are a lot more likely to achieve diabetes remission than someone who's been diagnosed for longer periods of time," she explained.

Weight loss is an equally crucial component for achieving remission, according to the nutritionist.

"When warranted, people who lost 10 per cent or more of their body weight were more likely to achieve diabetes remission," she noted.

Before making drastic lifestyle changes, however, diabetics are advised to consult a doctor first.