Connect
What's all this talk about Intermittent Fasting ?
I'm a Type 2 Diabetic for 38 years now. Male, age 78. I resisted insulin all my life. Used to be on a variety of oral meds, but just use Glipizide now. Stopped Januvia(expensive) almost two years ago. The secret ? INTERMITTENT FASTING(IF). A struggle at first, but easy peasy now after 3 years. Nice weight loss, fewer meds and great reduction in joint pain. Most recommend 16 hours-no food and 8 hours , eat healthy but no restrictions on portions. Sounds daunting at first, but here's how it works. Stop eating by 8 pm. Sleep from 11pm to 8 am( that's 12 hours...mostly sleeping) Skip break fast. Black coffee or tea okay. Lunch time at noon( maybe a bit later) ! Eat until 8 pm. Then back to fasting.
Give it a couple of weeks and see you results. Your biome will love it. Your joints will quickly respond. In a short while you may get "low" glucose readings, leading to med reduction or elimination.
Best to talk to your doctor so that good tracking and observations are achieved.
This is, without exaggeration, a life changing practice. Once it becomes a routine( there's plenty of incentives), it become part of you, a life habit.
You'll see !
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Diabetes & Endocrine System Support Group.
Connect
That has been my experience with IF. I’m prediabetic and borderline hypertension. One week of IF put my numbers in the normal range. Wonder why doctors don’t recommend this first, before meds?
I started doing this 2-3 months ago (after 5 months of Ozempic) and love it. I eat between 11 am and 7 pm and don't mind skipping breakfast. I do track my hours and water on an app. It is slow going, but I am also losing 2-3 pounds per month and my blood glucose is good as long as I watch what I eat. I recommend giving it a try.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSpeaking as a nearly 50 years diabetic, regarding Intermittent Fasting (IF) be very careful if you are taking insulin. The balance between insulin, eating and the resulting blood sugar is a slippery slope at best. Mismanagement of anything can result in dangerous high or worse yet low blood sugar.
So glad this has worked for you, but it doesn’t work for everyone. I have been doing 18/6 for several months and have gained weight. I had great luck with IF before I got Covid, but it somehow messed with my metabolism and IF just not working, even though in my 6 hour window I was following WW. Just diagnosed this week as pre diabetic.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI agree completely. Soon after starting intermittent fasting, my glucose number started to drop and I was soon experiencing Lows I had never seen before. Since it was my personal endocrinologist who had first recommended I try fasting, she was quick to stop my use of Januvia. I still take one dose( by mouth) 5mg Glipizide and have good. stole results. That same doctor actually showed tears after I reported how well IF was working for me. I guess her "wins" with diabetic patients are few and far between these days.
IF is a BIG chance in one's diet. Just do the math on intake. To think that one can adopt IF as a life's habit, and have everything stay exactly the same can be risky, indeed. I believe our Docs have to be one phone call away as we make these important changes. After a while maybe our Docs will relax too.
Type 2 diabetes can definitely be improved with this simple, natural method IMHO.
Take care.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsDear Amiecollins, Have you continued your same intake of Ozempic since
starting IF? IF is not a small life change, it's BIG and really changes things.
It's important to partner with your diabetes doctor so that they can react/adjust meds accordingly as IF starts to lower glucose readings.
Cheers.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am a "Type 2" 20 + years. After having been on diet and oral meds for just a few years I went on Insulin I have eaten 1 meal a day during the entire time. (evening)Watch your portions and what you eat and you will do just fine. Yes, certain DRS will not approve but they will come around and many others, as well as dieticians will understand and think differently. I like the term Intermittent Fasting (IF). Hopefully, it will become more understood.
Pumaguy79, I started IF as I stopped Ozempic. In 5 months on ozempic I only lost 11 lbs. and still have a long way to go. Only on one metformin/day and A1c is 7.0. So, not a worry just yet. Thanks for reminding me to check with my doctor.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionDoes this work for late evening eats? I could probably confine my eating to 2pm to 10 pm and then just coffee and tea the rest of the time. I ask b/c it seems logical that you’d put on more weigh in the evenings b/c you are naturally more sedentary then. I have been pre-diabetic for years and done nothing about it. I have gained about 15-20 pounds in the past 2 years.
I’ve found one of the benefits of IF is a reduction in my acid reflux. I attribute that to the fact I don’t eat 3-4 hours before bed time. I would think any time would work as long as it’s at least 12 hours fasting , the longer is better.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction