How did the "weight loss secret" that 600 million people are trying become good news for diabetic patients?

If diabetic patients do not carry out scientific diet control and exercise, it will have many effects on the body and cause many complications. Recently, Dr. Zhou Shujing from the Department of Endocrinology of Beijing Haidian Hospital published an article in December 2023 on "The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Blood Sugar Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Overweight and Obesity". It was introduced that intermittent fasting is a diet therapy that uses scientific methods to achieve weight loss, blood sugar reduction, and blood sugar control. By restricting diet and controlling weight, the purpose of treating and preventing diabetes can be achieved.

Light fasting method

Intermittent fasting is a diet that reduces weight through intermittent low energy intake. Intermittent fasting can improve insulin resistance and reduce weight, so it has received widespread attention in recent years. There are many ways to intermittent fasting (among which the 5:2 intermittent fasting model is a common method recommended by the "Chinese Expert Consensus on Medical Nutrition Treatment of Overweight/Obesity (2016 Edition)"):

5:2 fasting method: Eat normally for 5 days in a week, and consume 1/4 of the usual energy (about 500 kcal/d for women and 600 kcal/d for men) on the other 2 days (non-consecutive).

Time-limited fasting method: You can eat within 6 to 8 hours after getting up in the morning within a day, and no energy is consumed during the rest of the time.

Alternate-day fasting method: Eat normally on the first day, and consume about 500 kcal of energy food on the second day, alternating between the above.

Improvement of intermittent fasting on diabetic patients

Control weight: Intermittent fasting can effectively reduce the weight of diabetic patients and reduce body fat percentage. Studies have shown that after 3 months of intermittent fasting, the average weight loss is 6~8 kg, the waist circumference decreases by an average of 8 cm, the body fat percentage decreases by an average of 2%, and the visceral fat decreases by an average of 34 cm2.

Control blood sugar: Intermittent fasting can effectively lower blood sugar, improve insulin resistance, and reduce the use of hypoglycemic drugs. Studies have shown that after three months of intermittent fasting, glycosylated hemoglobin decreased by 1.8%, and the amount of hypoglycemic drugs taken was reduced compared to before.

Note: Intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone

For diabetic patients, intermittent fasting is a dietary adjustment method worth considering. However, when implementing intermittent fasting, patients should follow the doctor's instructions to avoid adverse reactions, such as hypoglycemia. If you want to know more details about how to do intermittent fasting, it is recommended to consult a doctor or a professional nutritionist. In addition to intermittent fasting, diabetic patients can also lose weight and maintain their health through the following methods:

Appropriate exercise: Exercise for half an hour to one hour every day, and at least 3 times a week.

Regular check-ups: Diabetic patients must undergo regular physical examinations to understand their physical condition.

Control blood sugar: If blood sugar levels are below standard for a long time, use hypoglycemic drugs under the guidance of a doctor.

Change eating habits: Try to eat less oil and salt, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. When choosing food, diabetic patients should pay attention to choosing foods with low sugar content, and also avoid high-calorie, high-fat and high-cholesterol foods.

Reasonable arrangement of three meals: Diabetic patients should arrange three meals reasonably in their diet, so that the food distribution of each meal is balanced with the energy consumption of the three meals, neither feeling hungry nor maintaining adequate nutrition. Between meals, you can increase the intake of some fruits, yogurt, vegetables and other foods.

In short, intermittent fasting is a safe and effective way to lose weight. Although it will not make you lose weight overnight, it can help you gradually lose weight and improve your health. When taking such dietary measures, you should work closely with your doctor to develop a personalized diet plan to reduce adverse reactions.

References: Zhou Shujing, Huang Wei, Yan Huixian. Effect of intermittent fasting on blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes combined with overweight and obesity[J]. Chinese Journal of Diabetes, 2023, 31(12): 925-928.