Therapeutic use of intermittent fasting for people with type 2 diabetes as an alternative to insulin

Abstract

This case series documents three patients referred to the Intensive Dietary Management clinic in Toronto, Canada, for insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. It demonstrates the effectiveness of therapeutic fasting to reverse their insulin resistance, resulting in cessation of insulin therapy while maintaining control of their blood sugars. In addition, these patients were also able to lose significant amounts of body weight, reduce their waist circumference and also reduce their glycated haemoglobin level.

A Diet for Healthy Weight: Why Reaching a Consensus Seems Difficult

“…In 2017, a trial reported that T2D remission is possible through dietary weight management administered systematically by a primary health-care team [ 30 ]. Since then, additional studies showed that primary care-led, physician-involved, dietary and lifestyle interventions can effectively treat and reverse type 2 diabetes and associated comorbidities [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Many of these studies used a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that is currently neither approved nor consistently advocated by the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.…”

“…Physicians are trained to treat complications arising from obesity, such as heart disease and T2D, but medical school curriculum emphasizes much less on the utilization of nutritional interventions to mitigate the risks of developing those complications in the first place [ 39 , 40 ]. As discussed earlier in the article, only recently has there been compelling evidence that primary care physician-led dietary interventions can effectively treat and reverse metabolic diseases [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. More commonly, unless drugs or surgical interventions are considered, patients are referred to retail programs run by registered dieticians and health coaches to deal with body weight problems.…”

Intermittent Fasting and Adding More days to Life

“…Randomized trials demonstrate that intentional weight loss reduces type 2 diabetes, retards aging-related functional decline; and increases cognitive and physical function; and increases lifespan [5] . Modest weight losses of 5%-10% have been associated with LETTER TO THE EDITOR significant improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors (i.e., decreased HbA1C levels, reduced blood pressure, increase in HDL cholesterol, decreased plasma triglycerides) in patients with T2D [6] . In addition to the weight loss effects and metabolic improvements, several other beneficial effects of therapeutic fasting have been described including improvements in lipid profiles, osteoarthritis, healing of thrombophlebitis, healing of refractory dermal ulcers and tolerance of elective surgery [7] .…”

Enhanced Wound Healing With Caloric Restriction, Refeeding, And Intermittent Fasting: Dietary Strategies In Support Of Bioproliferative Injection Therapies

“…Diabetes type 2 (dm) case series have demonstrated the effectiveness of therapeutic fasting to reverse insulin resistance, with resultant cessation of insulin therapy, accompanied by reduction in body fat, weight circumference and glycated haemoglobin level. 29 Though not directly related, improved glycemic contol and associated weight loss may also support a response to prolotherapy treatments. There are over 100 known physiologic factors contributory to wound healing deficiencies in diabetes, such as impairment of growth factor production, 30 32 .…”