Study: Intermittent fasting helps type 2 diabetics control blood sugar
2024-06-25 12:22:23
TiranaPost
Intermittent fasting can help people with early type 2 diabetes improve blood sugar levels, lose weight and lower blood pressure, according to a new study.
For the test, roughly 400 participants in China either took the anti-diabetic drugs metformin or empagliflozin or followed a 5:2 intermittent fasting schedule, in which people fasted for two non-consecutive days of the week and spent the other five eating a breakfast and lunch. normal and having a replacement meal for dinner.
At the end of the 16-week study, participants who adopted the 5:2 diet saw a 1.9 percent drop in blood sugar levels, compared to 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent among those who took medication.
The findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, suggest that lifestyle interventions may be more effective than drugs for overweight people with type 2 diabetes.
Across the globe, about 1 in 10 adults – 537 million people – have diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity and low physical activity, and while medications such as insulin and weight-loss drugs can help patients manage the condition, research shows that dietary and other lifestyle changes are key to reducing health risks.
