Study comparing diet and fasting in hyperglycemia

The three researchers from the University of Minnesota compared diets in terms of their impact on patients with hyperglycemia.

For this randomized study, seven subjects with untreated type 2 diabetes followed a standard diet consisting of 55% carbohydrate, 15% protein and 30% fat (SD), a three-day fasting period and a calorie-restricted, carbohydrate-free diet (kfD). During the three therapies, glucose, insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels were determined and compared.

The data showed that the glucose concentration fell from 196 mg/dl (SD) to 160 mg/dl (kfD) and 127 mg/dl (fasting) immediately after the start of treatment. In the last 24 hours, it decreased by 48 % with the kfD and by 69 % with fasting. Insulin and glucagon levels remained unchanged.

The study shows that hyperglycemia can be improved by both diet and fasting and also proves that around 70 % of the glucose reduction is due to a lack of carbohydrates.