Could Intermittent Fasting be the Solution to Your Diabetes Problem?
Intermittent fasting (IF) has become one of the most popular trends in the health and wellness industry. People have used IF to lose weight, gain muscle, reduce blood sugar levels, and even improve their energy levels and overall mood.
But what many people don’t know is that IF can also be beneficial to diabetes patients like yourself. In this blog post, we’re going to explain exactly how you can use intermittent fasting to help control your blood sugar levels and other diabetes symptoms.
What is Intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a type of diet that has been trending recently, alternating periods of not eating with periods of eating. It involves not eating for 16-20 hours and only eating during an 8-hour window. The idea is that by only eating in a limited time frame, your body will burn through its glucose more quickly, which will help control diabetes.
In addition, as you’re not eating for such long periods of time, it’s easier to stay within calorie limits. However, there are no studies looking at intermittent fasting and diabetes so it’s still unclear how effective this is at controlling the disease.
Some studies have found that people who follow this diet may have better blood sugar levels than those who don’t, but others have found just the opposite. If you decide to try intermittent fasting, make sure to talk with your doctor first before doing anything drastic like cutting out food groups or drastically reducing calories.
The Benefits of Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting has been shown to improve many aspects of health, including blood glucose levels. Studies have found that it is an effective way for people with type 2 diabetes to regulate their blood sugar and reduce the need for medications.
It can also lead to weight loss and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. A study in mice found that intermittent fasting increased insulin sensitivity by 34%. Another study on men showed a decreased insulin response after intermittent fasting.
While more research needs to be done, there are promising benefits of intermittent fasting for people with diabetes. More studies are being conducted which may provide even more evidence. If you’re considering trying intermittent fasting as a solution to your diabetes problem, talk with your doctor first before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.
The Drawbacks of Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone for a variety of reasons. For starters, it’s not a good idea for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. It can also cause problems with hunger and weight loss problems in people diagnosed with diabetes because it can lead to low blood sugar levels.
Finally, there are some people who just struggle with this type of diet and don’t find that it works for them. I’ve spoken to others who say they tried intermittent fasting but felt like they were starving all the time. They found it difficult to eat enough food on their scheduled days off to make up for lost calories during fasting days and consequently gained weight instead of losing it.
So while there may be benefits when done correctly, intermittent fasting isn’t right for everyone. On top of the above-mentioned problems, there is a risk of developing gallstones which could require surgery if untreated. If you’re considering intermittent fasting as an option for your diabetes, please consult your doctor first before starting any new diet plan!
How To Start Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern in which periods of not eating at set intervals are followed by periods of eating. You might hear it called time-restricted feeding or intermittent energy restriction, but they all mean the same thing.
It sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty straightforward, and there are some really great benefits. The most important part is choosing your fasting window. There are a number of options available 16/8, 18/6, 20/4, and 24-hour fasts for example.
You may want to do some research about which one will work best for you and what kind of impact that type would have on your body before starting out with one of these diets. For instance, if you’re diabetic and following a low-carb diet, then fasting during the day probably isn’t the best idea since it could lead to blood sugar issues.
But if you’re following a ketogenic diet or another high-fat diet plan, then doing an 18/6 daily fast should be okay. Once you’ve chosen your fasting windows, make sure you drink plenty of water when fasting so that you don’t become dehydrated.
