Can Intermittent Fasting Cause Diabetes?

Healthful Vitality | 11/11/2021 | Can Intermittent Fasting Cause Diabetes?

The straightforward answer to this question is NO. However, there are still a few things to understand. For example, certain kinds of intermittent fasting may marginally increase the risk of diabetes or might be counterproductive.

Since so many people are living with obesity and related disorders. Thus, experts recommend reducing body weight. There is an urgent need to normalize body weight in the US, where about half a population is obese and another 20% overweight.

Obesity considerably increases the risk of diabetes. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders, joint diseases, and even brain disorders.

The US is among the few nations that not only recognize obesity as a risk factor for diseases but also classify it as a disease in itself. Thus, obesity must be treated with diet and exercise.

Intermittent fasting and diabetes

Intermittent fasting is good in the way that practicing it does not require much knowledge. It is a pretty simple way of reducing total calorie intake. To practice it, one just needs willpower and the ability to resist food for some hours.

There is no fixed way of intermittent fasting. However, some of the common methods are like 16/8 or 5:2.

In 16/8, one eats only eight hours a day and does not consume any food for 16 hours. This helps reduce total calorie intake and prevent munching. Although, one may eat healthy snacks during these 16 hours, like a bowl of green salad or a portion of fruits.

Similarly, 5:2 dieting means eating a regular diet for five days. However, fasting for 2 days a week. On those two days, one may still consume food but limit calorie intake to 500 calories.

So, as one can see, intermittent fasting is not very strict fasting as it allows eating healthy snacks or some calorie intake even when fasting.

There is a reason why some healthy snacking is allowed. It helps prevent stress, formation of free radicals. It also helps prevent deficiency of micronutrients, as one can eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Therefore, intermittent fasting is a wonderful way of weight loss and lowering the risk of diabetes.

Where does the notion come from that intermittent fasting causes diabetes?

So, where does the notion that intermittent fasting causes diabetes come from?

This notion comes from a single study in animal models presented in the European Endocrinology Society annual meeting in 2018. In the session, researchers presented research finding that when rats were put on alternative day fasting, it increased the risk of diabetes.

However, it is worth understanding that such a strict diet form is rarely recommended in humans. Alternative day fasting causes extreme stress on the body. It means continually fighting with stress. It may be more harmful than good.

On the other hand, intermittent fasting like 16/8 or 5:2 has nothing in common with the above experiment. These diet forms are more flexible and do not cause much stress on the body. Moreover, none of these intermittent fasting methods advocate not eating anything in 24 hours. All these diets allow consumption of some calories even when fasting or having healthy snacks.

To conclude, intermittent fasting does not increase the risk of diabetes. However, extreme fasting, like alternate days, may cause damage to various organs and increase the risk of diabetes.

(Related: Is Intermittent Fasting Bad for Women’s Hormones?)