Diabetes Remission Achievable Through Integrated Care, Experts Say

INDONESIA still faces significant challenges in managing type 2 diabetes, which accounts for approximately 90% of cases in the country. Health practitioners believe that remission is no longer just a medical concept but a target that can be achieved through a comprehensive approach that integrates medical services, nutrition, and continuous monitoring.

Practitioner Dr. Kelvin Candiago stated that diabetes management should not focus solely on medication but must also include nutritional intervention and sustained support to help patients maintain lifestyle changes. “Patients need an ecosystem that supports them from diagnosis, through metabolic improvement, to maintaining results,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/7/2026).

To address this, an integrated ecosystem was developed combining medical treatment, specialist diabetes clinics, and patient support communities. The initiative began in 2020 with a nutrition service based on the concept of food as medicine, and by 2023, a specialist clinic focused on metabolic repair and achieving diabetes remission was established.

By the first quarter of 2026, over 1,500 people with diabetes had received support through the programme. Each month, approximately 15 to 20 patients reach the reversal stage, and around 7 to 10% meet the clinical criteria for diabetes remission. A support community with nearly 2,000 members also provides a platform for sharing experiences, education, and mutual encouragement to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Diabetes remission is not impossible if patients receive comprehensive and continuous support,” Dr. Kelvin said. The initiative recently received a Top Innovation Choice Award 2026 for its integrated ecosystem approach to diabetes management.