Studies have shown that intermittent fasting reverses type 2 diabetes

According to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, patients achieved complete diabetes remission after intermittent fasting dietary interventions, defined as HbA1c (mean blood sugar) levels below 6.
5%
after stopping diabetes medication for at least one year.

As an effective way to lose weight, intermittent fasting diets have become increasingly popular
in recent years.
Intermittent fasting is when you eat
only for a specific amount of time.
Fasting for a few hours a day or just one meal a few days a week can help your body burn fat
.
Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can reduce the risk of
diabetes and heart disease.

"Type 2 diabetes doesn't have to be a permanent, lifelong disease
.
Dr Dongbo Liu of Hunan Agricultural University in Changsha, China, said: "Diabetes is likely to be relieved if patients lose weight by changing their diet and exercise habits
.
Our research shows that intermittent fasting, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine Nutrition Therapy (CMNT), can lead to diabetes remission in people with type 2 diabetes, findings that could have significant implications for
the more than 537 million adults worldwide living with the disease.
" ”

The researchers administered an intermittent fasting diet intervention to 36 people with diabetes for 3 months and found that nearly 90 percent of participants, including those taking hypoglycemic drugs and insulin, reduced their diabetes medication intake
after intermittent fasting.
Of those, 55 percent experienced diabetes remission, stopped their diabetes medications, and stayed on for at least a year
.

The study challenges the conventional wisdom that diabetes remission can only be achieved
in patients with a shorter duration of diabetes (0-6 years).
Among study participants who achieved diabetes remission, 65% had diabetes duration of more than 6 years (6-11 years).

"Diabetes drugs are expensive and a barrier
for many patients trying to effectively manage their diabetes.
Our study found that after intermittent fasting, drug costs were reduced by 77 percent for people with diabetes," Liu said
.

The research was supported by a grant
from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Emily N C Manoogian, Lisa S Chow, Pam R Taub, Blandine Laferrè re, Satchidananda Panda.
Time-restricted Eating for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases.
Endocrine Reviews, 2022; 43 (2): 405