When millennials think of losing weight or going on a diet, intermittent fasting comes to mind. It made them happy because it helped them lose weight. The good news is that it can also benefit people with diabetes. A quick online search will show you that many people have looked up whether the intermittent fasting option is safe for diabetics. A new study has revealed that it can help put diabetes in remission, and the benefits aren’t just limited to millennials. Nearly half of the study participants were between the ages of 38 and 72. They followed a calorie-restricted diet intermittently for three months and achieved remission of their diabetes.
According to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, participants no longer had to take diabetes medication and were able to maintain that remission after a year.
Health Shots digs a little deeper with the help of Dr Aravinda J, Diabetic Physician, National Research Consortium for the Study of Diabetes in India, Executive Committee Member, Delhi.
What is intermittent fasting and how is it related to diabetes remission?
Timing is very important intermittent fasting as it involves eating food for a certain period of time. Aravinda says it could be 5:2 fasting or daily time-limited fasting or alternate day fasting. While 5:2 fasting includes a five-day normal diet and two-day-a-week fasting, in alternate fasting you can eat one day and fast the next day or you can can eat a small meal. It may include less than 500 calories.
For daily time-limited fasting, it requires eating food within 8 hours a day. This process helps cut calories, leading to weight loss, the expert says, which could be “one of the reasons that increases the likelihood of diabetes remission”. Explaining further, the expert shared that obesity is one of the main concerns of diabetics because it leads to a number of other complications, and that intermittent fasting can “address this concern and reduce the risk of obesity.” help reduce diabetes”.
What foods should you eat during intermittent fasting?
It is important to understand the type of foods a person can eat during intermittent fasting. Since intermittent fasting requires long breaks from eating, it is essential to include nutritious foods as part of the diet. You need to eat whole foods rich in fiber. They should be incorporated into diet planIncluding protein-rich foods.
According to Aravinda, calcium-rich foods as well as vitamin-rich foods are also recommended as part of the staple foods for intermittent fasting. Amidst all the nutrient-dense foods, your first priority should be to make sure you’re drinking enough water.
Is there a better chance of having diabetes when you have type 2 diabetes?
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes type 2 diabetes whereas type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune insulin disorder, so “there is a greater chance of diabetes remission in type 2 diabetics,” says Dr. Aravinda. Experts share that lack of physical activity, disturbed sleep cycle and malnutrition increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help people with type 2 diabetes maintain it. stabilize or even go into remission.
Diet after diabetes remission
Diabetic or non-diabetic, you should always follow a healthy diet, but you must focus more on your eating habits once your diabetes is in remission. Experts say it’s a good idea to consult a dietician and incorporate a healthy diet into your lifestyle even after your diabetes is in remission. After all, going into remission from diabetes doesn’t allow health concerns to be ignored.
