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.

Is the 5:2 Diet Suitable as a Diabetes Diet Plan?

When faced with having to choose the right diabetes diet plan the 5:2 diet is one you should not ignore. The plan itself is what is considered an intermittent fasting diet. What this means is that in a seven-day cycle you would eat normally on five of them but only consume 500-600 calories on the two remaining days in that week.

What Makes This An Ideal Diabetic Meal Plan?

It has been proven in numerous studies that weight loss may actually lessen insulin resistance. If you suffer from type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed as having borderline or pre-diabetes, weight loss, and reduced insulin resistance would prove beneficial.

Another bonus of the intermittent fasting diet is that there are no real strict guidelines related to what you should or should not eat, within reason.

That is when you compare it to any other diabetes diet plan that involves complex calculations based on calorie counting and portion measuring. The only main rule is that on the two reduced-calorie fasting days, you don’t use them back-to-back in a normal seven-day cycle.

Your Diabetic Meal Plan – Intermittent Fasting Has Many Benefits.

diabetes diet plan 5:2 intermittent fasting — Healthy Eating for Diabetics

In addition to weight loss, the 5:2 diet has proven to reduce the number of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol is in the system as well as decrease blood pressure. The insulin resistance reduction that accompanies weight loss is the most important benefit of interest to diabetics.

The insulin sensitivity resulting from intermittent fasting makes this a very good diabetic meal plan option. That being said, there are some cautions to be aware of before choosing this as your diet plan to help with your diabetes.

Things To Watch Out For

Diabetics should first consult with a medical professional to determine if the intermittent fasting diet is the right choice and whether it can be used safely as part of their diabetes therapy.

Also, if you are on insulin there is an additional note of caution. Intermittent fasting may cause a side effect that could result in a higher risk of hypos. This could also happen if you are using certain medications also. If in doubt, check with your doctor first.

The Bottom Line

Weight loss diets have come and gone, as have various tools and regimens designed to help with your diet and weight. For diabetics, the choices are even more reduced with higher risks in most cases. The 5:2 intermittent diet plan is a much easier way to lose weight as it forces your body to use energy stored in your body on reduced-calorie days.

The benefits of this kind of weight loss are many but for diabetics, they include a change in insulin sensitivity.

Essentially, intermittent fasting, as proven through clinical tests, helps you to control your blood sugar levels allowing for safer weight loss through the burning off of fat and stored sugar. And that is what makes this a diabetes diet plan worth exploring further.

If you need some extra help or information on the 5:2 diet, the fasting diet plan, make sure you take a look here.