Limited Evidence for the Health Effects and Safety of Intermittent Fasting in Type 2 Diabetes (2024)

FAQs

Is intermittent fasting safe for type 2 diabetes? ›

In this approach, the time of day during which food can be eaten is restricted, but the amount or types of food are not. Small studies have suggested that intermittent fasting is safe and promotes weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes.

Studies discovered that intermittent fasting boosts working memory in animals and verbal memory in adult humans. Heart health. Intermittent fasting improved blood pressure and resting heart rates as well as other heart-related measurements.

Fung explains why conventional treatments that rely on insulin or other blood-glucose-lowering drugs can actually exacerbate the problem, leading to significant weight gain and even heart disease. The only way to treat type 2 diabetes effectively, he argues, is proper dieting and intermittent fasting—not medication.

Those fasting had more insulin sensitivity.

Intermittent fasting for three days a week could reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. These health benefits are potentially even greater than following a calorie-restricted diet.

Another potential danger of intermittent fasting with diabetes is high blood sugar. This is known as hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia can happen if you eat more than you typically do, which may be likely to occur if you're especially hungry after a period of fasting.

I would also never recommend intermittent fasting during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in youth who are growing, and with anyone who has a history of restrictive food behaviors or eating disorders. Food cravings may increase after periods of food restriction.

There is also some new research that shows that fasting 16 hours of the day and eating within an 8-hour window might help you lower blood sugar levels and lose weight in the short-term. People have put their type 2 diabetes into remission following an intermittent fasting diet.

A1c levels – the measure of a person's average blood sugar level over time – dropped by about 1% in both the intermittent fasting and calorie restriction groups. Up to 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, and losing weight is an important part of care.

Fung says the most common fasting strategy is 16 hours of fasting and eating within an eight-hour time period. "So you might eat for example from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or you might do it early, say 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. There's various ways to do it, but that's one of the more popular schedules," he said.

“This is the first study to show that, despite weight loss, intermittent fasting diets may actually damage the pancreas and affect insulin function in normal healthy individuals, which could lead to diabetes and serious health issues.”

Can intermittent fasting cause heart problems? ›

Should we be relooking at intermittent fasting as a good health practice considering it might affect our heart? A study last week showed that 20,000 adults, who had an eating window of only eight hours and fasted for the remaining 16, had a 91 per cent higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease in the long-term.

Research has linked intermittent fasting to many health benefits — including weight loss, increased blood sugar control, reduced heart disease risk factors, and more. But side effects of fasting can include hunger, irritability, headaches, and bad breath.

A1c levels – the measure of a person's average blood sugar level over time – dropped by about 1% in both the intermittent fasting and calorie restriction groups.

The American Diabetes Association's goals for blood sugar control in people with diabetes are 70 to 130 mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL after meals.

If you are currently taking metformin to control your glucose levels, research shows it is safe to continue taking the medication when you start intermittent fasting. However, you shouldn't take the drug if you fast for an entire day as it could increase the risk of hypoglycemia.