WASHINGTON: Diabetics can heave a sigh of relief, as a recent study has found that planned intermittent fasting can drastically reverse the effects of type 2 Diabetes.
According to a report published recently in the journal BMJ Case Reports, three men, aged between 40 and 67, who fasted intermittently, were able to cut out their need for insulin treatment, altogether. Diabetes claims around two million lives around the world every year and is known as one of major silent killers globally, accounting for around two per cent deaths worldwide, said the medicos. Lifestyle changes are key to managing the disease, but by themselves can’t always control blood glucose levels, and while bariatric surgery (a gastric band) is effective, it is not without risk, said the authors.
Drugs can manage the symptoms, and help to stave off complications, but can’t stop the disease in its tracks, they added. The men in question were taking various drugs to control their disease as well as daily units of insulin. In addition to type 2 diabetes, they all had high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Two of the men fasted on alternate days for a full 24 hours, while the third fasted for three days a week. On fast days, they were allowed to drink very low calorie drinks, such as tea/coffee, water or broth, and to eat one very low calorie meal in the evening.
After following the pattern for just one 10 month, the participants were able to stop injecting themselves with insulin. Two of the men were able to stop taking all their other diabetic drugs after 10 months, while the third discontinued three out of the four drugs he was taking.
In addition, they all lost weight and recorded vast reduction in average blood glucose readings. The feedback was positive, with all three men managing to stick to their dietary schedule without much difficulty, said the authors.
“This present case series showed that 24-hour fasting regimens can significantly reverse or eliminate the need for diabetic medication,” the authors told the Science Daily. (AGENCIES)
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