What is the "honeymoon phase" after a Type 1 diagnosis, and is my pancreas healing?

It is completely normal to feel hopeful when this happens, but the "honeymoon phase" does not mean your diabetes is cured or that the diagnosis was incorrect.

When you are first diagnosed with Type 1, your pancreas usually still has a small number of functioning beta cells left. However, because your blood sugar has been running so high, those remaining cells are exhausted and "stunned" by the toxicity of the high glucose.

Once you start injecting insulin, the massive strain is lifted. With the injected insulin doing the heavy lifting, your remaining beta cells get a chance to rest and often temporarily "wake up," resuming a bit of their own insulin production. This makes your blood sugars very easy to manage and drastically reduces the amount of injected insulin you need.

Unfortunately, because Type 1 is an autoimmune condition, the immune system will eventually destroy these remaining cells. The honeymoon phase can last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years, but eventually, you will become fully reliant on injected insulin. Enjoy the easier management while it lasts, but stay in close contact with your endocrinologist so you are ready to adjust your doses when the phase ends!