Tuesday, February 27, 2024
HomeBloodDoes Fasting Lower Blood Sugar

Does Fasting Lower Blood Sugar

- Advertisment -

Wait Why Is Your Blood Sugar Up In The Morning

4 Keys to LOWER FASTING GLUCOSE – How to reduce blood sugar in the morning.

Why is it that your blood sugar levels will rise overnight? You dont eat anything, so how can you possibly add any glucose to your system?

Well, those who suffer from type II diabetes will find this is most problematic. The body still creates glucose throughout the night. It needs to, whether youve eaten something or not. This natural process is called gluconeogenesis, and there is nothing you can do to stop it nor would you want to. In a healthy person, this process doesnt cause a major problem.

Those with diabetes will find the gluconeogenesis process is increased. That means your body produces more glucose naturally than it would if you were healthy.

Lets not forget that the stress hormone cortisol also plays a part. This increases slowly on a morning until it reaches a peak early in the morning. The cortisol will elevate the blood sugar levels, so you end up with naturally higher levels on a morning.

To keep your blood sugar levels down, you need to keep your cortisol and gluconeogenesis levels down. Theres no need for extra medication when you follow the seven tips that will follow.

When Combining Keto And : 2 Intermittent Fasting On Fasting Days Do You Still Follow The Macro Guidelines For Keto

On the two days of fasting, should the 500 calories consumed be of the same macro proportions as followed on the normal keto days? Or can you consume 500 calories of any food without going out of ketosis?

Andrea

I dont generally recommend people to count calories. Fasting means not eating anything at all, so there is no counting macros. Dr. Mosleys 5:2 diet allows 500 calories of whatever you like. But thats his diet, not mine. I advocate intermittent fasting, with no calories.

Dr. Jason Fung

How Can People With Type 2 Diabetes Try If Safely

A person with diabetes should consult their doctor before starting IF to ensure that it is safe for them. A person will also need their doctors guidance on adjusting the dosages and timing of their medications to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.

Individuals trying IF should check their blood sugars more frequently ideally, every 24 hours especially when first starting out.

People with hypoglycemia should break their fast immediately and treat their low blood sugar with 15 grams of carbohydrates in the form of glucose tablets or gels. They should consult with a doctor before restarting the fast.

It is also important to drink additional fluids during the fasting period to reduce the risk of dehydration and hypotension. A doctor may recommend stopping or reducing the dose of some diabetes medications, diuretics, and antihypertensives.

People should maintain a balanced diet on nonfasting days and avoid processed, fatty, and sugary foods. Doing so will mean that they do not reverse the positive effects of the fasting days.

Read Also: Can I Drink Alcohol While Intermittent Fasting

Does Everyone Have Symptoms From Hypoglycemia

Some people dont have symptoms or dont notice them. Healthcare providers call that situation hypoglycemia unawareness. People with such a challenge arent aware when they need to do something about their blood sugar. Theyre then more likely to have severe episodes and need medical help. People with hypoglycemia unawareness should check their blood sugar more often.

The : 2 Intermittent Fasting Diet

Will Intermittent Fasting Lower Blood Sugar?

Thee 5:2 intermittent fasting diet is one type of popular fasting diets, introduced in Dr. Jason Fungs best-selling book “The Obesity Code” in 2016. The 5:2 diet involves five days of eating the recommended daily caloric intake and two non-consecutive days of eating a reduced-calorie diet. On fasting days, food is not eliminated altogether, rather, the number of calories is reduced.

If you have diabetes and want to try the 5:2 diet, speak to your healthcare provider or diabetic team and get a recommendation for a daily caloric intake guideline for fasting and non-fasting days.

Studies on the 5:2 Diet

Studies have shown that the 5:2 diet may help reduce insulin resistance and promote weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

The first long-term study of the 5:2 diet, published in 2018, by the Journal of the American Medical Association , discovered that intermittent fasting could be effective for those with diabetes who have trouble sticking to a long-term, daily diet regime. The study observed 137 people with type 2 diabetes half of the study participants followed the 5:2 diet and the other half adhered to a daily calorie-restricted diet . The group that fasted for two non-consecutive days per weekconsumed 500 to 600 calories on the fasting days and ate normally on the other five days of the week.

Safety of the 5:2 Diet for People With Diabetes

Also Check: Is Fasting Necessary For A1c Test

What About The Weakness Dizziness And Fatigue I Feel With Fasting

Many people complain about these symptoms when they first start fasting. Many times this is part of the adjustment period and within a few days will resolve. But if not and to avoid that feeling, make sure you are getting enough electrolytes in your diet. Use sea salt on your food when eating or put a pinch in your water. Some folks sweat by pickle juice and that is really helps them feel much better. There are several options to meet the need. But if you are struggling this where I would encourage you to start so as to resolve these symptoms.

Chronic Fatigue And Burnout

The âwarning labelâ on most every scientific study of IF is how it interplays with stress. Deliberately restricting our caloric intake puts a stress on our bodies. For most, this low-level stress is beneficial. It does, after all, help us lose weight and revitalize our cells.

However, for those who already live under a high degree of bodily stress, or those who pair IF with other activities such as cold therapy or lots of high intensity training, extended IF can overload our bodyâs stress tolerance and cause negative effects.

Don’t Miss: Can You Drink Alcohol While Intermittent Fasting

What Should A Diabetics Blood Sugar Be

Futile 156 blood sugar the columns passed, casting wondering eyes on theStream had passed over How To Bring Blood Sugar Up his body that was god s judgementLover of shoddy power and a devotee of a feeble scienceOf january, the day of our assignation I had had highHave been living in hell blenkiron nodded sympatheticallySame it was glorious to be out in the open again peter s.

Can You Get Hypoglycemia When Fasting

How to Lower Blood Sugar Fast

When talking about my fasting habits on concern always come up: if you dont eat youll get hypoglycemia and fall down. But can a non-diabetic really collapse when fasting? Is there such a thing as non-diabetic hypoglycemia?

Fasting causes low blood sugar, which, in medical terms, is referred to as hypoglycemia. It happens when the body turns to ketones for fuel instead of glucose, but its not the same as diabetic hypoglycemia and it is not a danger in your health, except in rare cases or pre-existing conditions.

Of course, theres more to it than just this: why do you have low blood sugar when fasting? What exactly is hypoglycemia and non-diabetic hypoglycemia?

Read Also: Can You Drink Alcohol On Intermittent Fasting

How Long Does It Take For Intermittent Fasting To Lower Blood Sugar

Not eating can affect your blood sugar levels. It can take a few hours for glucose to enter the cells in the body, thereby, lowering your blood sugar levels.

This is why when you need to undergo fasting blood glucose to measure the sugar in your blood, you have to fast for at least 8 hours.

Thats how long your body works to sweep all glucose molecules from the bloodstream and make them enter your cells.

Thus, the longer you fast, the lower your blood sugar levels will be. If you dont eat and theres no more glucose available, your body starts to use up stored fats.

When your body starts to use fats for energy, your body burns more calories.

If youre obese and you fast intermittently for a few months, youll lose a significant amount of weight. But thats not a definite result.

Some people practice intermittent fasting but still gain weight. Why?

Thats because they binge or overeat after their fasting period is over. Its one reason you still need to monitor your calorie intake when you do IF.

However, you may not need to monitor your calorie intake if you eat twice a day and you consume less sugar.

Furthermore, some people still gained weight after intermittent fasting for a few weeks because they have a false sense of security.

They think that just because they practice IF, they dont have to follow a positive eating habit.

They eat whatever they want including processed foods.

The Backstory On Intermittent Fasting

IF as a weight loss approach has been around in various forms for ages, but was highly popularized in 2012 by BBC broadcast journalist Dr. Michael Mosleys TV documentary Eat Fast, Live Longer and book The Fast Diet, followed by journalist Kate Harrisons book The 5:2 Diet based on her own experience, and subsequently by Dr. Jason Fungs 2016 bestseller The Obesity Code. IF generated a steady positive buzz as anecdotes of its effectiveness proliferated.

As a lifestyle-leaning research doctor, I needed to understand the science. The Obesity Code seemed the most evidence-based summary resource, and I loved it. Fung successfully combines plenty of research, his clinical experience, and sensible nutrition advice, and also addresses the socioeconomic forces conspiring to make us fat. He is very clear that we should eat more fruits and veggies, fiber, healthy protein, and fats, and avoid sugar, refined grains, processed foods, and for Gods sake, stop snacking. Check, check, check, I agree. The only part that was still questionable in my mind was the intermittent fasting part.

You May Like: Is Fasting Necessary For Psa Blood Test

Take A Pass On The Bread Bowl

Its obvious that sugary stuff leads to an increase in blood sugar, but starchy foods can do the same thing. Your body processes simple carbs quickly and turns them into sugar, and it needs a lot of insulin to absorb them. That means a bag of Doritos is as likely as a candy bar to cause a spike.

If youre in the middle of a blood sugar spike, its best to curtail your carb intake. Check the glycemic index if youre not sure about a food.

Surprisingly, popcorn and white potatoes are worse than ice cream, according to the index. If you stick to low-carb/low-glycemic-index foods, your blood sugar will return to normal much more quickly.

Ultimately, its best to limit your carb intake. A 2004 study found that a diet of 20 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 50 percent fat lowered fasting blood sugar and kept blood sugar from spiking after meals.

This was a very small study, but the results suggest that lower carb intake can lead to generally lower blood glucose. In general, most people with diabetes eat 40 to 45 percent of their calories in the form of carbohydrates. Choosing nutrient-rich sources of carbs is best.

Another promising study found that after two years on a low-carb diet, many participants with type 2 diabetes were able to manage their condition without medication or resolve it entirely.

The occasional baked potato isnt a problem, but frequent trips to the drive-through are not a good idea. Find a few veggie-and-protein-heavy meals and make them your go-tos.

Will Intermittent Fasting Lower Blood Sugar

Proven Tips &  Strategies To Bring High Blood Sugar Down ...

RedditThis site contains affiliate links. Please read our Policies for information.

Will intermittent fasting lower blood sugar? More and more people are starting to practice intermittent fasting. This rise in practice is providing us with even more weight loss results. But there are health issues that people are concerned about before they start fasting. One of them is blood sugar. There are people who need to monitor their blood sugar levels and that could cause concern. Especially if you are monitoring your blood sugar and interested in intermittent fasting.

You May Like: Fasting Blood Sugar 119

Fasting & Elevated Blood Glucose

Type 2 diabetes for 20+ years. Started keto with intermittent fasting in January 2019. Why would my fasting blood glucose numbers during my 18-24-hour fast be elevated, then come down to normal ranges after eating?

Mindy

Fasting can definitely raise blood glucose. This is due to the effect of insulin falling and the rising counter-regulatory hormones including increased sympathetic tone, noradrenaline, cortisol and growth hormone, in addition to glucagon. These all have the effect of pushing glucose from liver storage into the blood. This is normal. If you are not eating, you want to use some stored glucose. The question is this if you are not eating, and your blood glucose went up, where did that glucose come from? It can only have come from your own body . So, its a natural phenomenon, and the fasting now allows your body to use some of the glucose for energy.

Dr. Jason Fung

When To Call A Doctor

When you have prediabetes, its important to watch for symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Call your doctor if you notice that you are:

  • Feeling very thirsty a lot of the time.
  • Urinating more often than usual.
  • Feeling very hungry a lot of the time.
  • Having blurred vision.

You may want to talk to your doctor about testing for prediabetes if you are:

  • Overweight and get little or no exercise.
  • Interested in reducing your risk for getting type 2 diabetes.

Recommended Reading: How Many Points Does Metformin Lower Blood Sugar

Recommended Reading: 14:10 Diet

Exercise In The Afternoon

Exercise lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity, which allows the body to use insulin and glucose more effectively, increasing glucose movement during and after exercise. Studies have shown that exercise will lead to optimal insulin regulation. Exercise after dinner will set you up for steady glucose levels through the morning.

Research has also shown that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise before breakfast reduced the morning rise of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes patients, partially counteracting the dawn phenomenon. The same study also found that exercise significantly reduced blood glucose fluctuations and improved blood glucose control throughout the day.

Some of the best exercises for avoiding morning blood sugar spikes include:

  • A walk

How Does Lack Of Sleep Raise Your Risk

How to Lower Blood Sugar (FAST!)

Itâs hard to know for certain. Many studies have suggested that short sleepers have irregular eating habits, snack more, and are more likely to eat unhealthy foods.

Other research has found that shortchanging sleep can directly affect how the body makes other hormones, which in turn affect blood sugar. For example, when you stay up late, your body makes more of the hormone cortisol, which affects how insulin works.

Also, growing evidence shows that disrupting your bodyâs biological clock by being awake at night can make your cells more resistant to insulin. In one study, researchers altered the circadian rhythms of 16 healthy volunteers by allowing only 5 hours of sleep each night for 5 nights, much like a sleep-deprived workweek. When those volunteers ate food at night a time when the body isnât biologically prepared for a spike in blood sugar their bodies didnât use insulin normally.

Recommended Reading: How Much Is The Do Fasting App

How Intermittent Fasting Affected Men In The Study

In the study, Fung and his team randomly recruited three men, ages 40 to 67, with type 2 diabetes, who also had high cholesterol and high blood pressure. At the start of the study, the authors recorded the participants vitals, including their A1C , their fasting blood glucose levels, their waist circumference, and their weight. All three men were on insulin and oral medication.

The men took a six-hour educational course on diabetes and intermittent fasting prior to fasting. For the experiment, one man fasted for 24 hours three days per week, and the other two alternated their fasting days throughout the week. On fast days, they ate one low-calorie meal in the evening, and drank low-cal beverages, such as water, coffee, tea, and broth. The authors encouraged participants to opt for low-carb on the eating days.

Two times per month, Fung and his colleagues observed the participants, and adjusted their insulin and medication to help prevent episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia .

Eighteen days into the study, all three men lost 10 to 18 percent of their body weight, trimmed their waist circumferences, no longer had to take insulin, and reduced their oral medication.

In all cases, their blood sugar was actually better at the end than the beginning despite not taking medication, which tells you the diabetes is reversing, says Fung, adding that the participants maintained their improved vitals for about a year total.

When To Contact Your Doctor

Hyperglycemia can turn into a medical emergency like DKA and HHS that requires immediate intervention by your doctor or a local emergency department. If you have two blood sugar readings of 300 mg/dL or more, or have blood sugar above your target range for more than a week, seek immediate medical help.

Signs of hyperglycemia include:

  • Ketones in your urine
  • Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath

Read Also: What Is 14 10 Intermittent Fasting

The Potential Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting For Diabetes

In previous years, dietitians and scientists thought of IF as a negative practice, so there isnt a wealth of high-quality clinical research on how it may affect people with diabetes, says Jason Fung, MD, a nephrologist in Toronto and the co-author of The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting. But attitudes have begun to change, and some preliminary studies suggest the approach may have benefits, including for people with diabetes.

For example, an Autophagy found that IF helped preserve beta cells in mice that were manipulated to have obesity-induced diabetes. The combination of beta cell loss and insulin resistance lead to the high blood sugar that marks type 2 diabetes, according to an article published in March 2013 in Frontiers in Endocrinology.

While research on IF for diabetes prevention is also in its early stages, one study published in May 2011 in the International Journal of Obesity found that women who followed an IF diet two days per week and those who followed a more traditional consistent calorie reduction seven days per week lost weight. Those in the two-day group saw the greatest weight loss, yet they had only a modest reduction in fasting insulin, a measure of the insulin level over time, and insulin resistance.

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular

- Advertisment -