Can Intermittent Fasting Help Manage Diabetes?

When it comes to managing diabetes, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Although diet and exercise are important, counting calories all day, every day isn't for everyone. An alternative strategy that individuals are trying is intermittent fasting (IF). This popular eating pattern has gained attention for its potential to support weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity, but is it safe and effective for people with diabetes? Here, we'll go over some information on the relationship between IF and diabetes.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that alternates between periods of eating and periods of fasting. When fasting, you typically cannot consume anything with calories, but water and black coffee or unsweetened tea are okay.

Instead of focusing on what you eat, intermittent fasting focuses on when you eat. There are several different types of "patterns" that you can use when following an intermittent fasting diet. The most popular include:

• Time-Restricted Eating: This is when you give yourself a daily eating window that's limited to a certain number of hours. You can start small and work your way up, but the most common is the 16:8 method (fast for 16 hours of the day, then eat within an 8-hour window).
• The 5:2 Method: Eat normally for five days of the week and drastically reduce calorie intake (usually around 500 to 600 calories) on the other two non-consecutive days.
• Eat Stop Eat: This involves incorporating a 24-hour fast once or twice per week, but eating normally on the other days.
• Alternate-Day Fasting: The goal is to fast every other day, while maintaining normal caloric intake on eating days.

How Intermittent Fasting Affects Blood Sugar and Insulin Sensitivity

Although intermittent fasting for weight loss has shown positive results, it's essential to understand how it affects your body, especially if you're living with diabetes.

It helps with weight loss by giving your body a break from constant food intake, which allows it to burn stored fat for energy. When you’re in the fasting period, insulin levels drop, making it easier for your body to access fat stores.

Plus, when you fast, your body isn’t constantly getting sugar from food, so it starts to use up the sugar already in your blood. This can help lower blood glucose levels, especially if they're often too high.

Moreover, if you’re insulin resistant, your body doesn’t respond to insulin as well. Intermittent fasting may help your body become more sensitive to insulin, so it works better and your blood sugar stays more stable.

In some people with type 2 diabetes,

If you have type 1 diabetes mellitus, it's also important to check with your doctor about whether the benefits of fasting outweigh the risks. Even individuals who have been cleared to try intermittent fasting should keep track of their blood sugar levels and stay in touch with their doctor.

Tips for Trying Intermittent Fasting Safely with Diabetes

If you're going to try intermittent fasting, there are a few things you should do in order to prioritize your safety. These include:

• Talk to your doctor or diabetes specialist before you start intermittent fasting, especially if you're on insulin or glucose-lowering medications.
• Start slow and ease into it by slowly extending your fasting window over time.
• Keep a close eye on your glucose levels, especially during the first few weeks.
• When you do eat, choose balanced meals that are nutrient-dense and contain a good amount of lean protein, healthy fats, fiber, and complex carbohydrates.
• Drink plenty of water during both fasting and eating periods to help support energy and avoid dehydration.
• Stop fasting and talk to your doctor if you experience dizziness, weakness, confusion, or intense hunger.
• Try to fast and eat at the same time each day to help your body adjust and maintain stable blood sugar levels.

Who Should and Shouldn’t Try Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting could be helpful for certain people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or those looking to lose weight and improve metabolic health, as long as it’s done under a doctor's supervision. However, not everyone is a good candidate, and for some, intermittent fasting could potentially pose serious health risks. People who should reconsider IF include:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
• Children, teenagers, or older adults with frailty or high nutrient needs
• People with a history of eating disorders
• Individuals with certain chronic conditions, like kidney disease or adrenal issues

fasting may also reduce the demand for insulin and help the pancreas rest. Over time, this might support better insulin production, but results can vary depending on the individual and stage of diabetes.

Research on Intermittent Fasting and Diabetes

It should be said that intermittent fasting is more recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. There is also research suggesting that it can be safe for those with type 1 diabetes, but clinical trials are still limited.

Most of the current research is on how intermittent fasting may support type 2 diabetes remission or even reverse type 2 diabetes. In research published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 90% of participants (including those who took blood sugar-lowering agents and insulin) reduced their diabetes medication intake after intermittent fasting. 55% of them experienced diabetes remission, discontinued their medication, and maintained it for at least one year.

Intermittent fasting also shows promising results for weight loss in people with diabetes. In one study, the fasting group lost an average of 3.6% of their body weight compared to those in a control group. Since obesity and diabetes are relatively interconnected, IF is a promising addition to diabetes management plans for those who may feel burnt out from traditional forms of "dieting."

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting for Diabetes Management

Intermittent fasting in type 2 diabetes management can have several benefits, but it's important to work closely with your doctor to determine if this is the right choice for you. Still, when done carefully and under medical supervision, it can be a helpful addition to a diabetes care plan. Some of the potential benefits include:

• Lower fasting blood sugar levels
• Improved insulin sensitivity
• Reduced insulin resistance
• Lower hemoglobin A1c (long-term blood sugar marker)
• Support for weight loss and reduced belly fat
• Possible reduction in the need for diabetes medications
• Better metabolic flexibility (how your body switches between burning sugar and fat)

Risks and Challenges of Intermittent Fasting With Diabetes

While intermittent fasting can offer benefits for some people with diabetes, it doesn't come without its risks. Fasting can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low (hypoglycemia), particularly in people who take insulin or certain oral medications. Skipping meals may also lead to fatigue, headaches, or overeating later in the day. It’s not recommended for everyone, and careful planning is key to doing it safely. Some of the risks and challenges to discuss with your doctor include:

• Hypoglycemia
• Nutrient deficiencies (if meals are skipped or unbalanced)
• Increased risk of dehydration
• Difficulty managing medication timing
• Fatigue, irritability, or dizziness during fasting periods
• Potential for disordered eating patterns

Alternatives to Intermittent Fasting for Diabetes Management

If intermittent fasting doesn’t feel like the right fit, there are several other proven approaches to managing diabetes through diet and lifestyle. These alternatives focus on steady blood sugar control and long-term sustainability. The best thing to do is to work with your doctor to find something that's sustainable and works for you. Some options include:

• The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean protein
• Low-carb or carb-conscious eating helps reduce blood sugar spikes by limiting refined carbs and sugars
• A plant-based diet, which emphasizes fiber-rich foods like beans, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
• Consistent meal timing, i.e., eating regular, balanced meals to prevent blood sugar highs and lows
• Portion control and mindful eating, which help prevent overeating and support steady glucose levels

How to Start Intermittent Fasting

Although intermittent fasting has gained traction as a potential tool for managing type 2 diabetes, it's essential to talk to your doctor or a certified diabetes educator before making any significant changes to your eating patterns. Diabetes management is highly individual, and your care plan should be tailored to your unique needs and medical history, not something that's trending on social media.

For additional tools in comprehensive diabetes care, Byram Healthcare is available to support you along the way. From diabetes education to delivering essential diabetes products like continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and testing kits, Byram is there to help simplify diabetes management.