Of 36 people with type 2 diabetes, 55 percent had long-term blood glucose levels that fell to less than 6.5 percent after three months of intermittent fasting. This corresponds to a complete resolution of the diabetes, and this has lasted for at least a year despite complete discontinuation of the previously used medication. Almost 90 percent of the participants were able to reduce their diabetes medication intake after intermittent fasting, including insulin-dependent diabetics.
The study challenges the common belief that type 2 diabetes reversal can only be achieved in patients who have had diabetes for six years or less: 65 percent of participants whose diabetes had completely resolved had had it for six up to eleven years of diabetes.
“Type 2 diabetes is not necessarily a permanent, lifelong disease. Diabetes remission is possible when patients lose weight by changing their diet and exercise habits. Diabetes medications are expensive and a barrier to many patients trying to effectively manage their diabetes. Our study showed that drug costs decreased by 77 percent after intermittent fasting,” said Dr. Dongbo Liu from Changsha University, China. His team’s study was published in the journal “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism”.
Intermittent fasting has become popular as an effective weight loss method in recent years. This involves fasting a certain number of hours each day or eating just one meal a few days of the week. This can boost fat burning and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Which: DOI 10.1210/clinem/dgac661