Intermittent fasting may help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and control their blood sugar levels, a new study suggests.
- Intermittent fasting helps people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and regulate their blood sugar levels.
- This type of diet has not caused complications in diabetics.
- However, it is best to ask your doctor for advice before adopting intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting could be a solution for people with type 2 diabetes. According to a new study published in JAMA Network Open on October 27, 2023 by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, this type of diet would help them lose weight and control their blood sugar levels.
Intermittent fasting lowers blood sugar and weight in diabetics
American researchers reached this conclusion after following 75 participants suffering from type 2 diabetes for a period of six months. These were divided into three groups: those who followed intermittent fasting (by only eating in an eight-hour window between noon and 8 p.m. each day)those who reduced their calorie intake by 25%, and a control group who did not change their eating habits.
The results of the study showed that volunteers who fasted lost more weight in six months than those who adopted a calorie restriction. Additionally, both groups experienced similar decreases in their blood sugar levels over the long term. These results confirm that intermittent fasting can be an effective alternative to traditional diets for diabetics.
Diabetes : it is preferable to obtain medical advice before fast
According to lead author of the study Krista Varadyparticipants who fasted found it easier to follow this type of diet than those who reduced their calorie intake. She suggests that this could be because diabetic patients are usually encouraged by their doctors to reduce their calories in the first place. So, although they weren’t given specific instructions to reduce their calorie intake, intermittent fasters ended up doing so naturally while eating only within an eight-hour window per day.
“Our study shows that time-restricted feeding could be an effective alternative to the traditional diet for people who cannot follow the traditional diet or who are exhausted from it”explained the works manager in a communicated. “For many people trying to lose weight, counting time is easier than counting calories.”
The expert adds that while her work has shown that intermittent fasting is safe for people with type 2 diabetes, it is best to consult your doctor before starting this type of diet to ensure that it does not. There are no contraindications.
