Intermittent Fasting Diabetes Type 2

The 5:2 intermittent fasting diet is gaining in popularity because of the way it works. Not only is it a simple program to follow, if followed correctly it will actually help you to lose weight.

The simplicity comes from the cycle it works on. In a seven-day stretch, you eat normally for five days and fast on two non-consecutive days. On your fasting days, you reduce your calorie consumption to 25-percent of your normal level.

This eliminates the need to follow a strict diet plan, which may require you to purchase pre-packaged meals and careful measuring and calculating each and everything you intend to consume. The program is successful because it is flexible and can be used any time.

An Easy Diet Plan to Follow for Diabetes

Provided you are already eating a relatively well-balanced diet, fasting for two out of seven days is not as difficult as it may sound. In fact, the meals you prepare for fasting days will be nutritious, delicious, and satisfying.

The 5:2 fasting diet plan is not a starvation diet – it is an eating program that promotes healthy eating and this is what leads to weight loss. The 5:2 fasting diet is also beneficial to individuals who have diabetes.

How the 5:2 Fasting Diet Benefits Diabetics

In addition to assisting with weight loss, the intermittent 5:2 diet plan has been proven through various studies to reduce the body’s resistance to insulin. For borderline diabetics or individuals with Type 2 diabetes, this is an interesting discovery.

Because insulin sensitivity is increased by this fasting diet, individuals not using blood sugar-reducing medications will benefit most from this program. The fasting diet is, therefore, a good choice for people with a Body Mass Index of over 25 or who are diagnosed as being borderline diabetics or with Type 2 diabetes.

The Proof is in the Results

Of particular interest to diabetics is the mechanics behind the way the body reacts on fasting days. As the body is forced to burn energy stored in the body (fat and glycogen sugars) it improves the levels of cholesterol and blood glucose while burning away excess weight. Additional benefits found in studies on the fasting diet show it will decrease triglyceride and blood pressure levels.

There Are More Benefits to This Diet

Intermittent fasting has been examined under a microscope frequently and more studies verify that it has many benefits including weight loss, insulin sensitivity, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Recent research has shown that fasting diets increase life expectancy and lower the risk of certain diseases including possible cancer. However long-term research is still required to link cancer risk reduction to the 5:2 diabetes diet plan.

Precautions to Keep In Mind With This Diabetes Diet Plan

As is the case with any kind of weight loss program, you are advised to seek the approval of a medical professional before starting this eating plan.

This is to determine whether or not you may experience complications from a pre-existing condition. Once your doctor gives you the okay, the plan is simple to start and will produce results.

When you are ready to get started, make sure you check out this guide for some great tips and advice on the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet.

How to Succeed with a Fasting Program

The most successful diet programs are the ones that are easy to understand and simple to follow. This also means that once you commit to this program, you will be required to stick to it in order to see results. Based on the number of people who have lost weight and kept it off by fasting, you are guaranteed to see a change if you are committed and stick to this fasting diet eating plan.

Controlling Gestational Diabetes

This article will describe standard signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes, how it is diagnosed and just how it’s handled. It is going to show how a gestational diabetic diet program is very important for controlling diabetes in conjunction with other treatments.

So how do we go about Controlling Gestational Diabetes?

Even the calmest of Mothers-to-be will become concerned if they are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It’s a sad fact that more and more women are going to receive this worrying news as gestational diabetes is on the rise.

It’s important to know there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes before even trying for a baby.

For pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes, there are many lifestyle and dietary measures that can be taken to help bring blood sugar levels under control, and these are often all that is needed.

Most pregnant women are screened for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of their pregnancy with a glucose challenge test. This involves drinking a sugary drink before testing the blood to see how well the body manages to regulate the blood sugar levels.

When a pregnant woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it means her blood sugar levels are too high. This is concerning, because it can have negative implications for the baby as well as the mother if not treated and brought under control.

Uncontrolled high blood sugar levels in pregnancy can cause babies to grow larger that usual and increase the chances of respiratory distress, bone fractures, nerve palsies, low blood sugar levels and early birth. For the pregnant mother there is a higher risk of placental trouble as well as a higher risk of perineal tearing or caesarean due to the large size of the baby.

The likelihood of these issues can be reduced if gestational diabetes is identified and blood sugar levels brought under control. It is possible to prevent or reduce the impact of gestational diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight, healthy diet and regular exercise. The Majority of women with gestational diabetes will find their blood sugar levels return to normal after giving birth.

Despite this, women who have had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Additionally, women who have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy face a 35 to 50 per cent chance that it will return in future pregnancies.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

During pregnancy, the placenta is responsible for providing nourishment to the baby from the mother. Hormones released by the placenta cause a slight insulin resistant state in the mother as a normal part of pregnancy. As insulin is important for moving sugars into the cells, it plays an integral roll in maintaining steady blood sugar levels.

Insulin resistance impairs the ability of insulin to perform its job effectively, although slight insulin resistance during pregnancy is normal and allows more sugar and nutrients to be available for the baby. Problems develop if these sugar levels become too high. A pregnant woman can also get gestational diabetes if her pancreas is simply not making enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable.

Pregnant women can have gestational diabetes without displaying any physical symptoms, which is why it is so important to be tested during pregnancy. However, some women may display symptoms, particularly if they display another form of diabetes they were not previously aware of. These symptoms may include:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Increased hunger
Blurred vision.

Many pregnant women, experience some of these symptoms as a normal part of pregnancy, so speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes can be treated with dietary and lifestyle changes and these can prevent the disease recurring in future pregnancies, potentially warding off type 2 diabetes in the future. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will usually be closely monitored by your doctor and will need to check your blood sugar levels with a machine at home.

Exercise

Regular exercise before and during pregnancy is a great way to help keep maternal blood sugar under control. Pregnant women can safely do as much exercise as they feel comfortable with. Studies show that as little as 15 minutes 3 times per week can be beneficial, although 30 minutes of daily exercise is recommended when there are no other pregnancy complications.

Walking is excellent and can be enjoyed right up until the last few days. Swimming during pregnancy is wonderful as it takes weight off the joints and back and brings welcome relief in later pregnancy. Cycling on a stationary bike is also considered very safe. Avoid exercising during the mid-day heat and pushing yourself beyond your existing fitness / stamina levels.

Diet

A healthy diet is essential in pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Reducing carbohydrates to 40 or 45per cent of your diet while making sure any carbohydrates have a low glycaemic index (GI) and low glycaemic load is crucial.

There’s are variety of smartphone apps that can give you a very accurate indication of your carbohydrate intake day by day. Obtaining a book outlining a low-GI diet will provide you with tables listing the glycaemic index and load of most foods.

As well as these changes, ensuring high dietary fibre levels is also very important. Hence a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, lean meat, eggs, nuts and seeds healthy fish and pure water is ideal.

Lifestyle

Stress increases hormones that encourage the release of sugar into the blood stream. Ancient cultures have long understood the need for pregnant women to be relaxed and happy and in our busy western society, pregnant women need to ensure they actively work at reducing stress. Meditation, prenatal yoga, exercise and /or counselling can help reduce stress levels.

Sleep helps to reset hunger hormones, which will encourage healthy food choices. Pregnant women will often experience disrupted sleep so, were possible, try to get to bed that little bit earlier or nap through the day.

Prevention

Ideally, women planning to get pregnant should seek good preconception care in order to avoid gestational diabetes altogether. Women who have had gestational diabetes in prior pregnancies can draw motivation from the knowledge that a good diet, regular exercise and weight normalization can help avoid complications from gestational diabetes in future pregnancies.

Following these healthy diet and lifestyle guidelines will put women in a better position to shine through motherhood and raise healthy children.

How to Reverse Diabetes with Diet

Post updated: 9th June 2023

You can easily learn how to reverse diabetes naturally and achieve this ultimate goal by simply adding the right foods to your diet. Although this might sound hard at first, it gets easier as the routine becomes a habit.

However, it is vital to remember following a diabetes diet is what enables you to get back to living your normal life. You can be in total control of diabetes and also feel good by introducing some foods to your diet. High-nutrient, low GL (glycemic load) foods are optimal for diabetics and they also help you achieve remarkable results by increasing your weight loss.

Foods to Reverse Diabetes

Green vegetables

Nutrient-dense green vegetables including cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens are the most important foods you should focus on in order to reverse diabetes. Higher consumption of green vegetables among diabetics is associated with lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels.

Non-starchy vegetables

Non-starchy, non-green vegetables like onions, mushrooms, eggplant, garlic, and peppers are essential components of your diabetes reversal diet. Besides having almost nonexistent effects on the blood sugar level of diabetics, they are packed with phytochemicals and fiber.

Beans

When you buy through links on our website, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support 🙂

Beans and legumes such as lentils are the ideal sources of carbohydrates for diabetics. Beans have a low glycemic value load due to their abundant fiber, moderate protein, and resistant carbohydrates, starch that is not digested in the small intestine.

Therefore, the number of calories absorbed from the beans is greatly reduced. Moreover, the resistant starch is converted to alcohol and organic acids that protect against cancer of the colon.

Consumption of beans and legumes is associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer and diabetes.

Seeds and nuts

Besides being low in GL, nuts promote weight loss and also have an anti-inflammatory effect that prevents the development of insulin resistance. According to The Nurses’ Health study, eating at least five servings of nuts per week reduces the risk of diabetes by 27%. Eating the same quantity per week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke among diabetics by 47%.

5. Fresh fruits

Fruits are rich in antioxidants and fiber and are a great nutrient-dense choice for satisfying your sweet cravings. Diabetics should eat at least 3 servings of low-sugar fresh fruits such as kiwi, melon, oranges, and berries each day in order to minimize glycemic effects.

Nutritional Guide to assist you with Planning Your Diabetes Diet

The following 4 food groups are highly effective in reversing diabetes:

Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, sweet potato, artichokes, kale, green beans, and squash.
Fruits: Pears, peaches, kiwifruit, bananas, oranges, grapes, and the entire berry family.
Whole grains: Whole grain pasta, brown rice, oats, millet, barley, rye, bran cereal, bulgur wheat, couscous, oats, and pumpernickel bread.
Pulses: such as soya beans, baked beans, chickpeas, split peas, lentils, peas, kidney beans, and low-fat soya products.

Always choose foods that have a low glycemic load when making your selections, avoid all animal products, keep the consumption of vegetable oils to a minimum, and choose foods that come from natural plant sources.

Understanding how to reverse diabetes and applying these guidelines when creating your diabetes diet will deliver amazing results and even enable you to eliminate the use of medications for good.

Find out how Broccoli Sprouts help Control Diabetes!

How to Create Sugar Free Desserts for Diabetics

Sugar free desserts for diabetics may seem like a myth, and at the same time godsend for diabetics.

Unfortunately, many diabetics believe that a healthy diabetes diet plan simply cannot include having great dessert. This is not the case, with desserts that both taste great and are sugar free.

Using Fruits to Create Sugar Free Desserts for Diabetics

Fruits are great ingredients for making low carbohydrate desserts which are delicious and nutritious. The sweetness in the dessert comes from the fruit, but there is an added benefit; the fruits aid your digestion since they are also rich in fiber. This fiber also helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Some of the more favorable fruits to be used for dessert include:

Raspberries
Strawberries
Blueberries

Sample Menu of Sugar Free Desserts for Diabetics

A great option for dessert is having pudding. If you love having pudding, you may want to try making bread pudding with orange or chocolate.

The ingredients are:

Two cups of whole wheat bread, cut into bite size pieces
Half a cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
One and a half cup of egg substitute
One cup of low fat milk
One fourth of a cup of sugar substitute
One table spoon of cinnamon and a table spoon of orange zest

Simply prepare and spray eight custard dishes with nonstick cooking spray. Mix the ingredients together and then distribute the mixture evenly into the custard cups and then put them into an oven that has been preheated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

The total cooking time for this sugar free pudding is forty five minutes.
After the pudding has cooked, let it cool for a little bit before serving this excellent example of a great sugar free dessert for diabetics.

Keeping track of Ingredients for Sugar Free Desserts through the Glycemic Index

If you want to maintain a good diabetic meal plan, remember to check the glycemic index (GI) of the ingredients used to create your dessert. The glycemic index shows how certain carbohydrates are digested in the body and form glucose. If carbohydrates in a certain ingredient has a low GI (55 or less), they will be digested slower than those with higher GI and are better for people with diabetes. To give you an idea of what we are talking about so you have a better idea of what you can use in your desserts, some example of the best low GI foods are:

Bran cereals,
Oatmeal
Barley