Before discussing whether intermittent fasting works well for patients suffering from diabetes, it is important to understand what this fasting is. This intermittent fasting is one type of a diet where those who wish to follow this, cycle between periods of fasting and eating. There are no specifications on the food you can eat during this eating window.
Types of Intermittent Fasting:
There are different ways in which you can follow this intermittent fasting, the most popular of this s the 16:8. This is where you can eat for eight hours after fasting for 16 hours. For example, you can have your dinner at about 7 in the evening, skip the breakfast the next morning and have an early lunch at 11 in the morning.
Another form of this intermittent fasting is fasting for 2 days per week or fasting every other day or even 24 hour of fasting either once a week or twice a week.
Intermittent Fasting and Diabetes:
The most common form of diabetes is the Type-2 diabetes which is found in almost 90 percent of diabetic patients. This is associated with being overweight. The main feature of this type of diabetes is resistance to insulin. This insulin is one type of hormone that moves the sugar (glucose) to the cells of the body from the bloodstream, and is used for the required energy.
For different reasons, the tissues of the body are not able to respond in an adequate manner to the glucose and the insulin and this is elevated in the blood stream.
Levels of blood-sugar when not controlled well, can lead o multiple health complications like heart-attack, blindness, kidney failure and also limb amputation.
How does Intermittent Fasting help Diabetes?
Studies have proved that the medications for diabetes can overstuff the cells with glucose. This then gets turned into fat. With this there are chances of the diabetes getting worse even if the blood sugar levels get better.
With intermittent fasting most of the patients can lose weight and the resistance to insulin is overcome. There are chances the patients are able to stop taking the medications for diabetes.
You need to be aware that the Type-2 diabetes can be reversed. It is advisable to do this type of fasting only after consulting your doctor. There are no ways you can take chances when you are suffering from diabetes.
Till the tine you decide on intermittent fasting you can follow the listed tips to get your diabetes under control.
- Make sure your body is able to burn fat in between meals.
- Avoid snacking or eating after dinner.
- Stay away from refined grains and sugar.
- Exercise regularly.
- Increase the intake of fiber
- Drink lots of water so that you are not dehydrated.
- Ensure you stay away from all kinds of stress.
Before making any changes to your life style or taking any supplements it is advisable to consult your doctor. This diabetes cannot be taken lightly so start off whatever is required as soon as possible.
