Fasting for diabetics

Prediabetes and Fasting

Fasting can be most effective if you have caught your diabetes before it really begins, in other words while you’re pre-diabetic. Many patients have a good chance to reverse the condition, before it turns into type 2 diabetes.

With the detoxing and organ-alleviating effects of fasting, you are able to set yourself on the right track and take control of your diet and lifestyle. You may be able to avoid medication altogether.

The basics of fasting

When you start fasting and abstain from consuming typical amounts of calories, your body will turn to its reserves to provide energy for the cells. It will first turn to any remaining glucose in the blood or glycogen deposits, to feed the cells with energy. Once those stores have been depleted, the body will begin to convert fat to energy.

Through fasting, you also help relax and “reset” your liver and pancreas, which are vital organs in maintaining healthy blood sugar and insulin levels. Some studies have shown that fasting can help regenerate the pancreas, allowing it to begin to regulate insulin levels without the help of medication. When glucose and glycogen stores have been depleted, the liver can focus on other functions such as detoxing the body and improving immunity.

Regulating Diabetes

In some cases, fasting can help diabetics improve pancreatic function, which in turn can help sufferers lower the insulin dose needed to control hormone and blood sugar levels, if not eliminate it altogether.

The broths and juices are made from fresh fruits and vegetables, which can help keep blood sugar levels stable during fasting and absorb essential vitamins and minerals that will help your organs. This supports both the liver and pancreas in performing vital functions.

Diabetes and fasting according to Buchinger

The Buchinger fasting method is a classic form of therapeutic fasting and is widely used in medicine. Here you abstain completely from solid food during the fast, consuming only broths and light juices. You’ll consume a very low amount of calories, simply to feed your body the nutrients it needs for basic functions as well as give vital organs the needed calories for them to continue as normal.

Without these very few calories, typically around 350kcal. per day, vital organs could potentially feel extremely stressed, causing your body more harm than good. These calories and nutrients allow your body to relax and regenerate during the fast.

Intermittent fasting for diabetics

Intermittent fasting is one of the most recommended fasting methods for people who are deemed unsuitable or unable to undertake classic therapeutic fasting. Essentially, you are not completely abstaining from solid food or the intake of calories, you would simply be restructuring your meals and the times in which you eat them. This diet can be designed into the so-called 5:2 diet for diabetics, meaning you eat normally for 5 days and abstain from food for 2 days. Alternatively, you could opt for arrangements such as the 16:8 diet, where you fast for 16 hours and eat normally for 8.

During the times in which you eat, you will usually eat very normally and have a very standard calorie intake. The fasting periods, however, will allow your body time to regenerate and deplete glucose and glycogen stores prior to eating again. This will inherently change your eating habits to healthier schedules, as many people are prone to snacking on the couch or at the computer at all hours of the day.

Medical supervision and advice

Our therapeutic fasting programs include supervision with doctors and medical staff. They will be available to not only give you advice on your condition from a fresh perspective, but they will also help you tailor your fast to make sure you get the best results. During your stay, they will monitor your progress and help you keep things like blood sugar and insulin values in check. Should you have any questions or concerns, there will always be somebody on site who is familiar with fasting and the process who will be able to assist you.

These experts will also not let you go home without some additional advice and instructions. They will first help you through the refeeding process and then give you advice and recommendations for your diet and your home physician, to make sure that you get the most out of your stay.

The best program length

Ideally you should aim for at least a 14 day fasting programme. This is generally the optimal time-frame to really give your body the reset and boost it needs to help you make some positive and lasting life changes. Should you not have the time for a 2 week fasting holiday, programmes can be adjusted to fit the time you do have. Dedicate as much time as you can to give your health the attention it deserves!

How to prepare

Before embarking on your fasting journey, make sure you consult your trusted physician, to see if they think therapeutic fasting could be right for you. Make sure to talk about the various types of fasting programmes and diets available to you, as some might be more suitable than others. To find out more about the different types of fasts, check out our fasting therapy page!

The next thing to do would be to gather a medical history, as detailed as you can. If you can, it would be best if you can get this in English. The doctors will make their own assessments and in some cases they will also evaluate blood samples on site, but the more information they have on hand, the better they will be able to help you. Also, do not forget to bring any and all medication you are currently taking, whether it’s insulin or simple multi-vitamins.

Lastly, start adjusting your diet prior to arriving at your fasting holiday destination. Start eliminating heavy and fatty foods, processed ingredients, caffeine and excess sugar. Make gradual changes over the course of a few days or a week, eating many small meals throughout the day consisting largely of fruit and vegetables as well as broths and juices. This will make your transition to a fast that much easier.