Connect with others who understand.

  •   Learn from expert-reviewed resources
  •   Real advice from people who’ve been there
  •   People who understand what you’re going through
Sign Up Log In
All Resources Treatments A-Z Personal Assistant Help Center Crisis
Powered By
Real members of DiabetesTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Just curious about the buzz - can a diabetic follow an intermittent eating plan? Please provide reasons with your answer😬

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Cape Town, ZA
July 29, 2023
 · 
Reactions
A DiabetesTeam Member

Intermittent Fasting "can be" a valuable eating style for someone trying to control blood sugar and lose weight

BUT

You can't do it with google and what some dude posts on the internet

You "need" professional help from a medical/dietary professional who not only understands it but also has all of your medical history so that it can be tailored specifically for you otherwise you could do some damage - no one size fits all formula

If you want to do some (research) on the subject you can google Dr. Fung - he is nephrologist (kidney doc) who has done extensive research developing a couple of IF (intermittent fasting) programs after decades of treating Diabetics with Kidney Disease

There is a number of decent video's out where he talks about his methods (usually speeches he is giving to other medical professionals that have been recorded) and he has written a couple of books, @A DiabetesTeam Member has been reading one of them and could provide a "book review"

So short answer is "yes, it MIGHT be viable for SOME Type 2's" but it is not something you should just try at home - you need professional help (and that is sound advice for any diet - any Diabetic who does NOT use the services of a Diabetic Dietitian or Nutritionist is really short changing their treatment)

July 29, 2023 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

PS. Also bear in mind that as a diabetic you should not go more than 2.5 to 3 hours without eating in order to stabilize your bg and keep it stable.

July 29, 2023
A DiabetesTeam Member

I am in the care of a dietician and don't personally follow the intermittent fasting or keto lifestyle as I am wary of them.
However I would advise that you make sure that you do your research so that you know exactly how it works and whether it will fit into your lifestyle in order for it to be successful. Many diabetics have had success with it if followed properly, but it doesn't work for everyone.
Hope this helps

July 29, 2023
DiabetesTeam

Intermittent fasting can be a topic of interest for those managing diabetes. However, it's crucial to consult with a doctor before making any significant changes to your eating plan. Here are some considerations based on the knowledge base:

- Consistency in Eating: Eating a consistent amount of calories at each meal and Show Full Answer

Intermittent fasting can be a topic of interest for those managing diabetes. However, it's crucial to consult with a doctor before making any significant changes to your eating plan. Here are some considerations based on the knowledge base:

- Consistency in Eating: Eating a consistent amount of calories at each meal and timing meals consistently each day can help control blood glucose levels.
- Medication Timing: It's important to take insulin or oral medications exactly as directed by your doctor and at the right times to keep your blood glucose steady.
- Potential Benefits: Some studies suggest that certain diets, including low-calorie and low-carb diets, can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the need for diabetes medications.

Always consult your doctor before starting an intermittent fasting plan to ensure it aligns with your diabetes management strategy.

July 23, 2024
A DiabetesTeam Member

Andre, what diet do you follow to keep your glucose levels down?

August 7, 2023

Related Questions

View All

what can i do about this i belive i should be on insuln dr wonts do it? my ai c 7.6 ?

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Muskegon, MI
July 27

Intermittent fasting

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Arlington, TX
July 11, 2025

Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Reversed? Injections, Diet, and More
Heart Disease and Diabetic Macular Edema: What’s the Link?
Eating Pizza With Diabetes: 5 Tips
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
By joining, you accept our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our collection, sharing, and use of your data in accordance with our Health Data and Privacy policies.
Already a member? Log In