Intermittent fasting can reverse diabetes. Here’s how

When millennials think of weight loss or dieting, intermittent fasting comes to mind. This made them happy as it helped them reduce their weight. The good news is that it could also benefit those with diabetes. A quick search online will show you that many people have checked whether it is safe for diabetics to choose intermittent fasting. A new study shows it can help put diabetes into remission, and the benefits aren’t limited to millennials. Almost half of the study participants were between 38 and 72 years old. They followed a calorie-restricted diet for three months and succeeded in achieving diabetes remission.

According to the study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, participants no longer had to take their diabetes medications and were able to maintain that remission at the one-year mark.

Health Shots took a little deeper look into this with the help of Drs. Aravinda J, Diabetologist, National Diabetes Research Society of India, Executive Committee Member, Delhi.

What is intermittent fasting and how does it relate to diabetes remission?

Eating time is very important when it comes to intermittent fasting as it is about eating food over a certain period of time. Dr Aravinda said it could be a 5:2 fast or a daily timed fast or an alternate day fast. While 5:2 fasting involves eating normally for five days and fasting two days a week, alternate fasting allows you to eat one day and fast the next day or have a small meal. It can contain less than 500 calories.

As for daily intermittent fasting, it requires eating within an eight-hour window each day. The expert said that this process helps to reduce calorie intake, resulting in weight loss, which may be “one of the reasons for increasing the likelihood of diabetes remission.” The expert went on to explain that obesity is one of the main concerns for diabetics, as it leads to many other complications, and intermittent fasting can “target this problem and help diabetes remission”.

What foods should you eat as part of intermittent fasting?

It is important to understand the category of foods that you can eat during intermittent fasting. Since intermittent fasting requires long breaks from eating, it is imperative that you include nutritious foods in your diet. You should eat whole foods rich in fiber. They should be included in nutrition planswhich should also contain protein-rich foods.

Foods high in calcium and foods fortified with multiple vitamins are also recommended as part of an emergency intermittent fasting diet, Aravinda said. Among all the nutrient-dense foods, make sure to make adequate water intake your priority.

Are there more chances of diabetes remission if you have type 2 diabetes?

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes type 2 diabetes Because type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune insulin disorder, patients with type 2 diabetes are more likely to go into remission, said Dr. Aravinda. The expert said that lack of physical activity, disrupted sleep cycles and malnutrition increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help people with type 2 diabetes stay stable or even achieve remission.

Diet after remission of diabetes

Diabetes or no diabetes, you should always eat healthy, but you should focus more on your eating habits after diabetes remission. The expert said that even after diabetes remission is achieved, it is recommended to consult a dietitian and include a healthy diet in your lifestyle. After all, remission of diabetes does not give a free hand to ignore health problems.