Intermittent fasting is a popular dieting approach that involves restricting the amount of time you eat during the day, often by skipping breakfast or dinner. This dietary practice has gained a lot of attention in recent years due to its potential health benefits and its simplicity.
Intermittent fasting is not a diet, but rather a pattern of eating. There are several different ways to do it, but the most common methods are the 16/8 method, the 5:2 method, and alternate-day fasting.
The 16/8 method involves restricting your eating to an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. For example, you might eat your first meal at noon and your last meal at 8 pm, and then fast until noon the next day.
The 5:2 method involves eating normally for five days a week and restricting calorie intake to 500-600 calories on two non-consecutive days.
Alternate-day fasting involves alternating between fasting and eating normally every other day.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to have several health benefits, including weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity and a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic progressive disease characterised by insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels. Now-a-days, Type 2 Diabetes remission or reversal is possible, if patient lose weight by changing their diet and exercise habits. Since intermittent fasting aids in calorie reduction and ultimately in weight reduction, it could be one of the paths to achieve Diabetes remission or reversal.
According to the latest research. time restricted eating using 16/8 method is easiest to implement and produces the best results in terms of losing weight and hence achieving sugar control
However, Intermittent fasting needs to be done safely as patients with diabetes may be at risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, as major adjustments in eating window can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which could be life threatening. So, whenever diabetic patient is doing intermittent fasting, it needs to done under supervision of healthcare providers including – Doctors, certified dieticians, and diabetes educator, as they may help you lose weight safely and sustainably.
In conclusion, intermittent fasting is a simple and effective dietary approach that can promote weight loss, improve insulin sensitivity, and help in remission or reversal of diabetes. While it may not be suitable for every diabetic patient, it is a worthwhile consideration for those looking to improve their health and wellbeing.
