The Dutch presenter says his blood sugar normalised after changing his lifestyle, but experts warn remission is not a cure and the condition can return.
Gordon’s dramatic weight loss has put type 2 diabetes remission back in the spotlight. On the cover of Men’s Health, the Dutch presenter appears visibly transformed after shedding 35 kilogrammes over three years, and he said his blood sugar normalised within months of changing his habits. According to Tubantia, his progress was enough for his doctor to say the condition had gone into remission after a sustained period of diet and exercise.
Robert Hilbrands, a diabetologist at the University Hospital Brussels, told Tubantia that excess weight remains the biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes, especially when fat is concentrated around the abdomen. He said that belly fat is often linked not only to insulin resistance, but also to heart and blood vessel disease and the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases the likelihood of serious illness. Hilbrands added that losing about 15% of body weight can, in some patients, allow the pancreas to make enough insulin again that medication is no longer needed.
The key point, he stressed, is that remission is not the same as a cure. The underlying tendency remains, and diabetes can return if weight is regained. That view is consistent with guidance from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which says remission means blood sugar has returned to a non-diabetic range without medication for at least six months, and that continued monitoring is still essential.
The American Diabetes Association has likewise noted that substantial weight loss, typically in the range of 10% to 15%, can make remission possible, particularly early in the disease. Research published in Diabetes Care also suggests that achieving at least 15% weight loss within two years of diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of both macrovascular and microvascular complications. Hilbrands told Tubantia that while newer drugs, including GLP-1 medicines, can help with weight loss and treatment, lifestyle changes and regular medical follow-up remain the foundation of care.
He also warned that type 2 diabetes is deceptive because it often causes no immediate symptoms. People may feel well even as blood sugar rises and damage builds silently in the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves. By the time warning signs such as thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision or unexplained weight loss appear, complications may already be under way. For anyone with obesity or other risk factors, he advised discussing a blood sugar test with a doctor as early diagnosis gives the best chance of avoiding lasting harm.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
