Nearly half of U.S. Adults—around 113 million people—are living with diabetes or prediabetes, a condition contributing to an estimated $412.9 billion in annual healthcare costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reports that type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, is often preventable. Now, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is launching a new initiative, Project Remission, to highlight the potential of lifestyle interventions to not just manage, but potentially reverse, the course of this widespread health challenge.
Project Remission, a national digital film series developed in partnership with Content With Purpose (CWP), premiered during a live webinar today and is now available digitally. The series focuses on the growing body of evidence demonstrating that evidence-based lifestyle medicine can effectively treat and, in many cases, achieve remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This approach moves beyond simply managing symptoms to addressing the underlying causes of the disease.
A Whole-Person Approach to Healing
Lifestyle medicine isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets. It’s a medical specialty that utilizes therapeutic lifestyle interventions—like nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management—as primary tools to treat chronic conditions. The ACLM emphasizes six key pillars: a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern. regular physical activity; restorative sleep; effective stress management; strong social connectedness; and avoidance of risky substances. Clinicians trained in lifestyle medicine are equipped to deliver prescriptive, evidence-based behavior changes to patients.
“Too often, chronic disease like type 2 diabetes is managed as a condition that patients must live with indefinitely,” said Padmaja Patel, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, CPE, President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. “At the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, we believe remission—for type 2 diabetes and many other chronic conditions—should be the North Star outcome guiding care. The strong alignment among our partners involved in this project reflects a shared vision of moving beyond symptom control toward health restoration, extended quality of life and a more sustainable future for patients and health systems alike.”
Stories of Transformation
Project Remission distinguishes itself through short-form documentaries featuring patients sharing their personal journeys toward improved health. These stories are interwoven with interviews from leading experts and practical insights for implementation. The series demonstrates how appropriately tailored lifestyle interventions can support patients in achieving remission of T2D, leading to improvements in clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, provider well-being, cost savings, and health equity—what ACLM refers to as the “Quintuple Aim.”
The series features contributions from a diverse range of organizations, including AdventHealth, Albertsons Companies, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, signaling a growing interest in integrating lifestyle medicine into mainstream healthcare. Experts featured in the series include Ed J. Stein, PharmD, MPH, DipACLM, a consulting pharmacist with Modern Health Goals, and Mahima Gulati, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, a board-certified endocrinologist at UConn Health.
Beyond Individual Health: A Systemic Shift
Project Remission isn’t just about individual patient success stories; it also explores the practical aspects of implementing lifestyle medicine within healthcare systems. The series examines models like dedicated lifestyle medicine clinics, interprofessional care delivery teams, and group visits, as well as strategies for sustainable reimbursement. A dedicated film clarifies the clinical definition of remission in T2D, distinguishing it from reversal and disease management, ensuring a consistent, evidence-based approach.
“As an endocrinologist, I see how exhausting it is for patients to manage chronic disease like type 2 diabetes through escalating medications, side effects, and mounting financial costs,” explained Dr. Gulati. “Project Remission offers something profoundly different—the possibility of addressing root causes and helping patients move toward remission through sustainable lifestyle change. That message is deeply empowering for patients who want to reclaim agency over their health.”
The initiative also highlights case studies from the Borinquen Medical Center, the LEADR Program, and Florida State University, showcasing how lifestyle medicine is being successfully applied in diverse care settings. These examples demonstrate the adaptability and potential of this approach to reach a wider population.
Project Remission will be available to stream beginning March 30, 2026. The ACLM encourages health professionals, policymakers, employers, and the public to explore the series and learn more about the transformative potential of evidence-based lifestyle medicine for individuals living with type 2 diabetes.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.
The ACLM plans to continue expanding its educational resources and advocating for the integration of lifestyle medicine into medical curricula and healthcare policy. The next step for the organization is a planned conference in October 2024, where further research and implementation strategies will be discussed. Readers are encouraged to share this information and engage in conversations about the potential of lifestyle medicine to improve public health.
