A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has shown that intermittent fasting may lead to complete diabetes remission in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The study included 32 individuals ages 38 to 72 years who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The participants were randomized into a control group and a group that received an intermittent fasting intervention for three months. The researchers conducted follow-ups at 3 months and 12 months after the intervention to measure outcomes including diabetes remission, HbA1C levels, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, weight, quality of life, and medication costs.
At the 3-month follow-up, almost 50% of the participants in the intermittent fasting group had achieved diabetes remission. Additionally, the intermittent fasting group had reduced their mean body weight by about 13 pounds after 3 months. At the 12-month follow-up, over 44% of participants in the fasting group showed sustained diabetes remission. Additionally, the medication costs in the fasting group were almost 80% lower than costs in the control group.
Type 2 diabetes, along with many other metabolic diseases, puts patients at greater risk of developing heart disease. Fortunately, type 2 diabetes is not a permanent disease, and weight loss, diet, and exercise can improve type 2 diabetes and even cause it to go into remission. As the authors of the study noted, intermittent fasting could help millions of people with type 2 diabetes achieve remission and lower their medication costs. While this was a relatively small study, the results have important implications for diabetes patients and the larger medical community.
Sources: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Science Daily