Post Time: 2025-07-26
Fasting has been practiced for centuries, and its effects on blood sugar levels have garnered significant attention in recent years. When we fast, our body is forced to switch from relying on glucose as an energy source to using stored fat reserves.
Research suggests that fasting can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 40% (Source: What Is the Ideal Blood Sugar Range for Healthy Living?). Insulin resistance is a major contributor to blood sugar fluctuations and is often associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. By improving insulin sensitivity, fasting enables our body cells to take in glucose more efficiently.
When we fast, several physiological changes occur that impact blood sugar levels:
- Gluconeogenesis: The process by which the liver converts non-carbohydrate sources into glucose is stimulated during fasting (Source: How Does Fasting Affect Blood Sugar Levels?).
- Ketosis: As our body starts to break down stored fat for energy, we produce ketones, which can have a stabilizing effect on blood sugar levels.
- Hormonal Changes: Fasting triggers changes in hormone production, including increased cortisol and adrenaline. While these hormones can cause stress responses that raise blood glucose levels initially, prolonged fasting has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity.
While intermittent fasting is often associated with weight loss benefits, some individuals may need medical supervision when incorporating this practice into their daily routine (Source: Is Your Blood Sugar Range Too High? How to Lower It Safely).
When done properly and under the guidance of a healthcare professional, fasting can be an effective tool for managing blood sugar levels. For those who choose not to fast or experience any adverse effects, there are many alternative methods that promote insulin sensitivity.
Some of these alternatives include:
- Exercise: Regular physical activity has been consistently shown to improve insulin sensitivity.
- Dietary changes: Focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help maintain a stable blood sugar range (Source: How to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Range Effectively).
- Stress Management: Chronic stress is linked with poor glucose control. Engage in activities that bring relaxation such as meditation or yoga.
Ultimately, it's essential for individuals considering fasting as part of their health regimen to understand its potential impact on blood sugar levels and take necessary precautions under medical guidance.
This is in no way a recommendation from Dr. Neal Barnard or Mastering Diabetes to add sodas and candy bars back into your diet. But sugar does not cause type 2 diabetes. In fact, this is already an established consensus among health professionals. Should you limit your sugary delights though? Absolutely. That as well is a universal recommendation from nutrition experts to prevent diabetes. Now, if not it's not the sodas, it's definitely not the sugar coming from fruits and other healthy carbohydrates. The bottom line is, more than sugary foods, what causes type 2 diabetes is fat. Diets high in fat are the culprit behind toxic fatty breakdown products and free radicals that block insulin-glucose communication. In this conversation, learn more about the role of fat in your diet and how to make sure you're getting enough of it with a plant-based diet. 🌱 Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, is an adjunct professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. (Full bio at 👉 Watch and Enjoy! Cyrus & Robby Guaranteed Diabetes Coaching ========================== If you’re living with prediabetes, type 1, type 1.5, type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes… And if you’re what should your blood sugar level be at bedtime tired of stress, uncertainty, excessive medication, and feeling like you’re not living your best life… Join Personalized Coaching today. All of our programs are 100% guaranteed to lower your A1c and help you achieve your body weight. If we don’t deliver results, we’ll either blood sugar type 2 diabetes coach you whats good for low blood sugar for free until you do, or we’ll give you your money back. Guaranteed. Click here to apply: Watch To Watch Next ================== Insulin Resistance Diet — What To Eat & Why How To Lower Your A1c Naturally Why Does Your Blood Sugar Spike in the Morning? What Are the Best and Worst Foods for Diabetics? | Green, Yellow, & Red Light Foods Weight Loss and Preventing Diabetes: What's the Link? Subscribe to our channel ==================== Follow us ======== Podcast: Instagram: Facebook: #diabetes #insulinresistance #insulinsensitivity