A glass jug and glass cup with herbal tea

Study comparing diet and fasting in hyperglycemia

Frank Q Nuttall et al.

October 2014

Diet, Fasting & Detox

Diabetes

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.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Diabetes
Institution: Section of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition, and the Metabolic Research Laboratory, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis/St Paul, MN, USA
Title: Study comparing diet and fasting in hyperglycemia
Brief description: The study shows that hyperglycemia is improved by a carbohydrate-free diet and fasting.
Original title: Comparison of a carbohydrate-free diet vs. fasting on plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon in type 2 diabetes
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25458830/