Can diabetes be cured by intermittent fasting? How does it function?
For some diabetics, intermittent fasting of any kind is not advised. Dr. Anil Bhoraskar, Senior Diabetologist at SL Raheja Hospital and Secretary, of the Diabetic Association of India (Scientific Section), stresses the importance of consulting your doctor before beginning any diet or weight loss plan.
Intermittent fasting has gained popularity recently, mostly as a means of weight loss. However, some thorough research has indicated that it can lead to diabetes remission, perhaps because of weight loss. A study that was just released last week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism demonstrated how over 44% of individuals who followed an intermittent fasting diet for three months were able to achieve Type-2 diabetes remission, stop using insulin or other medications, and keep it that way for the one-year follow-up period. No one type of calorie-restricted eating has emerged as the most effective for diabetics, according to Dr. Anil Bhoraskar, Senior Diabetologist at SL Raheja Hospital in Mumbai and Secretary, of the Diabetic Association of India (Scientific Section).
Is IF (intermittent fasting) safe for diabetics?
A type of diet called intermittent fasting entails restricting your mealtimes and then going for a set amount of time without eating much at all. The time spent fasting can range from a few hours to several days. It might help obese individuals lose weight, which can reduce their chance of developing diabetes. While intermittent fasting is regarded as safe for persons without diabetes, those with the disease may be more vulnerable to blood sugar changes, including both hypoglycemias during and after fasting periods and hyperglycemia when eating right after one. Large changes in eating habits may result in dangerously large changes in blood sugar levels.
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which taking insulin or other medications and abruptly eating less than usual can cause the blood sugar level to go dangerously low. This might cause symptoms like trembling, confusion, irritability, a rapid heartbeat, sweating, chills, dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, and nausea, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). If you eat more than you usually do, which could happen if you're hungry after a period of fasting, hyperglycemia can result. In addition, extreme fluctuations in blood sugar might impair organ systems. Patients with diabetes on SGLT2 inhibitors run the risk of developing ketoacidosis, a highly acidic state of the body. You run the risk of losing muscle mass and weakening when you use intermittent fasting to reduce body fat. which is why it should be a cautious and well-guided strategy rather than being used at the whim of one person.
Can a sporadic fast lead to diabetes?
There isn't any concrete evidence to support this. A rise in belly fat, harm to pancreatic cells, and the emergence of insulin resistance were all observed in a 2020 rat study where rats fasted every other day for 12 weeks.
There are many different designs for intermittent fasting diets, but none has consistently worked best for people with diabetes.
(1)16:8: People eat all of their meals within an eight-hour timeframe, then fast for 16 hours. Many individuals preserve their eating window between noon and 8 pm and then fast from 8 pm till noon the next day.
(2) 5:2: This form of intermittent fasting entails ingesting no more than 500 calories per day during the two days of fasting after eating regularly for five days.
(3) Alternate day fasting: This type of intermittent fasting is going without food for a full 24 hours, followed by another 24 hours of eating normally.
Can some individuals with diabetes be reversed by intermittent fasting?
In some people who are not using medication or insulin, it can reverse diabetes. Early onset cases are where it works.
What advantages does intermittent fasting offer?
In addition to having a metabolic effect on belly fat, it also greatly improves the mental well-being and feeling of routine in the lives of those who are attempting to control their diabetes and obesity. People with erratic lifestyles and eating patterns should try such eating patterns, but, only under close medical supervision. This is especially true for people who use insulin or oral drugs, as they need to carefully watch their blood sugar levels both when fasting and when eating.
In conclusion, even if all diabetics are not advised to engage in intermittent fasting of any kind, it is always crucial to speak with your doctor before beginning any diet or weight loss program.
Why is Dr. Anil Bhoraskar?
Dr. Bhoraskar is a skilled diabetologist who has been in practice for 32 years in Mumbai. In 1980, he graduated with his MD from Grant Medical College in Mumbai. He has numerous articles and publications to his credit in both national and international journals, and he has taken part in a great number of symposiums, seminars, and conferences held in conjunction with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the Association of Physicians of India, and the Diabetic Association of India. He is the South-East Asian IDF Chairman-Elect and the IDF Representative for India.
Dr. Bhoraskar is a skilled diabetologist who has been in practice for 32 years in Mumbai. In 1980, he graduated with his MD from Grant Medical College in Mumbai. He has numerous articles and publications to his credit in both national and international journals, and he has taken part in a great number of symposiums, seminars, and conferences held in conjunction with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the Association of Physicians of India, and the Diabetic Association of India. He is the South-East Asian IDF Chairman-Elect and the IDF Representative for India.
