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Is Fasting Healthy?What is the problem and what is known about it so far?While losing weight and increasing physical activity can help reduce the chance of getting diabetes, some people try drastic diets, such as fasting (or not eating for a long period of time). Little is known about how fasting or a starvation diet affects the body's ability to handle glucose in the blood. Why did the researchers do this particular study?The researchers wanted to study the effects of a short-term starvation diet on people with and without diabetes. Who was studied?The study included 10 people with type 2 diabetes and 10 obese people without diabetes. All the participants were volunteers. How was the study done?After eating a standardized meal for a few days before the study, participants fasted for 60 hours, consuming only water or weak unsweetened tea. What did the researchers find?A 60-hour fast actually worsened the body's ability to handle insulin and glucose in both people with diabetes and obese people without diabetes. People who were severely impaired in their ability to handle insulin improved slightly, but overall the effects were negative. What were the limitations of the study?Only 20 people were researched, so the findings may not apply to a larger population. People with diabetes were taking medication during the study, so it may not apply to people with less severe forms of diabetes. Also, the time before the fast was rather brief, so there may have been important differences in the participants at the beginning of the study. What are the implications of the study?Fasting is not a healthy way of dieting for people who are obese or who have type 2 diabetes. FOR MORE INFORMATION |
Now Available! Late-breaking Diabetes research summaries Read the ADA's research magazine Forefront Wedding Diabetes Forecast - Free Issue! |
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