Can Fasting Reduce Blood Sugar? Patients With Diabetes Must Know

Can fasting reduce blood sugar (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA - Fasting is not only a practice of worship, but also has health benefits. Fasting can be a way to control and improve the condition of the body. One of the questions that often arise is whether fasting can reduce blood sugar?

Fasting is believed to help the body maintain stability of blood sugar levels. When fasting, we are indeed more limited and regular in eating food. This habit certainly greatly affects blood sugar control. It is different when the days are ordinary or are not fasting, where people tend not to limit food intake.

During regular fasting, changes occur in the body including blood sugar levels. With a note, still pay attention to what foods are consumed when breaking the fast or suhoor. People with diabetes need to listen to the explanation that fasting can reduce blood sugar.

The study says that fasting can help control blood sugar in diabetics. In another study, it shows that 10 people with type 2 diabetes who are fasting for short-term intermittents can reduce blood sugar significantly.

While fasting, the body will remove glucose from the blood more quickly. With the habit of reducing food consumption, the body will also process fat and protein into a source of energy. This condition will reduce blood sugar levels. In addition, fasting can also help increase the sensitivity of the body's insulin which also plays a role in reducing blood sugar levels.

There are several benefits of fasting for diabetics. Here are a number of benefits of fasting for the health of the body:

Fasting is also shown to be able to lose weight for those who live it regularly. When fasting, the body's metabolism will increase and can reduce body fat. A study published in Nature Reviews: Endocrinology in May 2022, shows that intermittent fasting can help lose about 3-8% of the initial body weight for 8-12 weeks.

However, this weight loss is also influenced by the type of food consumed. Make sure to choose food and drinks that do not contain a lot of sugar. In addition, you also need to eat suhoor optimally as an energy reserve during fasting. You can eat high fiber foods such as red rice, wheat, whole grains, and others that make you feel full longer.

Restricted and regular eating habits also affect the health of the intestines and microbiota. This will certainly have an impact on the overall health of the body. By reducing food intake or fasting regularly, it can also reduce inflammation in the body.