Intermittent fasting - cure for diabetes?

[MikeSA]

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting as advocated by a Dr, Jason Fung, the Canadian nephrologist specialising in diabetes management.

Online, I have read articles and watched documentaries relating to his findings and apparently his view (supported by clinical trials) is that diabetes is simply caused by fat deposits that have over time accumulated around the liver and kidneys thus preventing or hampering the passage of insulin into the cells.

By following a plant-based diet (no meat, no chicken, no fish, no dairy and no refined carbs) and fasting (not eating anything for short or lengthy periods of time), it will enable the body to gradually burn off all the unwanted fat deposits and once again allow insulin to flow into the cells. That’s like not having breakfast and lunch (water however can be drunk) and only having dinner in the evenings.

Apparently he has had fantastic results with his patients and the majority of them are no longer on medication whatsoever. Even those that were on insulin has had dosage considerably reduced or eliminated completely.

That sounds a sure cure for diabetes and I would love to hear from anyone who has tried Dr. Fung’s program. I might decide to give it a go as well.

 

[oldsle]

I don't think he necessarily says no meat. I think a lot of recipes in his book have meat in them, mostly fish.

 

[Salvia]

Hi @MikeSA, welcome to the forum.

Our resident "Jason Fung expert" is @bulkbiker; I've tagged him and I'm sure he'll pop along fairly soon.

 

[oldsle]

I'm actually trying it now. 16 hours, but I make sure to have coffee in the morning to let my liver know I'm not starving myself. That way it doesn't release more glucose into my system.

 

[paulus1]

no thanks. fasting and a vegan diet.

 

[Nexus6]

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting as advocated by a Dr, Jason Fung, the Canadian nephrologist specialising in diabetes management.

By following a plant-based diet...<snip>.

I've carefully read both his core books (Obesity Code and Fasting Guide) and there is no direct recommendation to follow a plant based diet that I can recall as a focus?!? Certainly, quality and low carbohydrate plants are key additions, but the main focus is a reduction in insulin production through high quality fats as a staple source of energy.

But I've now done numerous 16:8, 22:2 and 42 hours fasts with great results in weight loss and lower glucose levels as a result. I have not made the jump to a 3 day yet, but thinking about it.

 

[Art Of Flowers]

I watched Jason Fungs fasting course on www.dietdoctor.com before starting intermittent fasting.

You can join free for a month and watch all their films and video courses.

 

[bulkbiker]

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting as advocated by a Dr, Jason Fung, the Canadian nephrologist specialising in diabetes management.

Online, I have read articles and watched documentaries relating to his findings and apparently his view (supported by clinical trials) is that diabetes is simply caused by fat deposits that have over time accumulated around the liver and kidneys thus preventing or hampering the passage of insulin into the cells.

By following a plant-based diet (no meat, no chicken, no fish, no dairy and no refined carbs) and fasting (not eating anything for short or lengthy periods of time), it will enable the body to gradually burn off all the unwanted fat deposits and once again allow insulin to flow into the cells. That’s like not having breakfast and lunch (water however can be drunk) and only having dinner in the evenings.

Apparently he has had fantastic results with his patients and the majority of them are no longer on medication whatsoever. Even those that were on insulin has had dosage considerably reduced or eliminated completely.

That sounds a sure cure for diabetes and I would love to hear from anyone who has tried Dr. Fung’s program. I might decide to give it a go as well.

Are you really a Type 1? If so I don't think Jason Fung has ever claimed any reversal of Type 1 through his methods.. he usually advocates his fasting regimes for Type 2's who he tries to get off insulin asap.
He also in no way advocates a plant based diet (or not that I have ever seen). He is a LCHF proponent especially Low Carb.
Yes he advocates fasting but again only for his Type 2 patients.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @MikeSA ,

If you are as your profile suggests, a T1.
There is no cure for type 1. We will always be dependant on insulin therapy due to the non insulin production in the pancreas beta cels..

What insulin regime are you prescribed?

 

[oldsle]

I think he says it has helped T1. It may not cure it, but it may help reduce insulin intake etc. I can't remember exactly what was said. It would be worthwhile to read up on him. Maybe google Jason Fung and Type 1, see what comes up.

 

[Guzzler]

There is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. Those with T1 can attain lower and more stable blood glucose, and those with T2 can and do put their condition into remission but that is the best that we can hope for.
Dr. Fung has helped hundreds of his patients with his IF approach but 'cure' is not a claim that he makes.
IF by itself is not an approach he advocates, rather it is LCHF plus IF and it has proved to be affective in controlling T2 but this takes time and should be fully understood before you embark on this change in lifestyle.
Those who have T1 are on insulin for life, it would be dangerous to fast as this can lead to hypos or worse.

 

[Indy51]

Maybe the OP is confusing Dr Fung's work on fasting for Type 2's with the Fasting Mimicking Diet research being carried out by Dr Walter Longo's lab discussed at length elsewhere on the forum:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...cell-regeneration-to-reverse-diabetes.116847/

ISTR a Type 1 member spent quite a lot of time and various fasting regimes to see if this would work for him but it didn't. Unless something stops the autoimmune process, regenerating beta cells may have little benefit longer term. Also, the work was with mice if I'm recalling correctly.

 

[oldsle]

There is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. Those with T1 can attain lower and more stable blood glucose, and those with T2 can and do put their condition into remission but that is the best that we can hope for.
Dr. Fung has helped hundreds of his patients with his IF approach but 'cure' is not a claim that he makes.
IF by itself is not an approach he advocates, rather it is LCHF plus IF and it has proved to be affective in controlling T2 but this takes time and should be fully understood before you embark on this change in lifestyle.
Those who have T1 are on insulin for life, it would be dangerous to fast as this can lead to hypos or worse.

Actually, in one of his videos I believe he talks about how T2 diabetes has been "reversed" in various patients. To me that indicates a cure. And he talks about how the medical establishment says T2 is chronic and incurable, and he disagrees. That's what I remember anyway.

 

[Guzzler]

Actually, in one of his videos I believe he talks about how T2 diabetes has been "reversed" in various patients. To me that indicates a cure. And he talks about how the medical establishment says T2 is chronic and incurable, and he disagrees. That's what I remember anyway.

Big, big difference between remission, reversal and cure. To be cured would mean to be able to return to a western diet and suffer no consequences. There is also the question of the genetic predisposition to answer.
I have seen a few of Dr. Fung's lectures but I am sure he has not mentioned cure but reversal as in treating patients who are on drugs/insulin and reversing the condition enough so that they are free of medication and in good control of bg.
If you remember which lecture or paper you read that mentions cure in this context I would be interested in seeing that.

 

[kokhongw]

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting as advocated by a Dr, Jason Fung, the Canadian nephrologist specialising in diabetes management.

Yes, you will find that many on this forum has had remarkable success with Dr Jason Fung's intermittent fasting protocol.

Online, I have read articles and watched documentaries relating to his findings and apparently his view (supported by clinical trials) is that diabetes is simply caused by fat deposits that have over time accumulated around the liver and kidneys thus preventing or hampering the passage of insulin into the cells.

That concept of pancreatic and liver fats causing loss of 1st phase insulin response and insulin resistance is basically the one advocated by Dr Roy Taylor. Dr Jason Fung subscribes to that concept. But there is a big difference in how he goes about resolving it with his obese T2D patients.

On key point where they differ is that Dr Jason Fung also prefers Dr Joseph Kraft's carbs/insulin model for classifying T2D. The constant high insulin response and high circulating insulin level is the main reasons why most T2D are unable to access and utilize fats. Fasting is one of the most effective way to lower insulin levels and enable the body to go into ketosis. Effectively switching on the fat burning process.

By following a plant-based diet (no meat, no chicken, no fish, no dairy and no refined carbs) and fasting (not eating anything for short or lengthy periods of time), it will enable the body to gradually burn off all the unwanted fat deposits and once again allow insulin to flow into the cells. That’s like not having breakfast and lunch (water however can be drunk) and only having dinner in the evenings.

NO. There is no recommendation from Dr Jason Fung that a plant based diet is effective or necessary. Those who advocate plant base diet usually prefers low fats, high complex carbs. They believe that animal fats/proteins are the primary cause of inflammation and fats built-up. They have their success stories as well.

Intermittent Fasting doesn't necessarily means, no breakfast or lunch. Skipping lunch or dinner works just as well..

Apparently he has had fantastic results with his patients and the majority of them are no longer on medication whatsoever. Even those that were on insulin has had dosage considerably reduced or eliminated completely.

That sounds a sure cure for diabetes and I would love to hear from anyone who has tried Dr. Fung’s program. I might decide to give it a go as well.

You should give is some consideration, but do understand what is involved and whether it suits your condition. Intensive dietary intervention can be highly effective in lowering glucose levels and should be approach with caution if you are on medication.

Here is a timely post from Diet Doctor
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/with-diabetes-medications

 

[oldsle]

Big, big difference between remission, reversal and cure. To be cured would mean to be able to return to a western diet and suffer no consequences. There is also the question of the genetic predisposition to answer.
I have seen a few of Dr. Fung's lectures but I am sure he has not mentioned cure but reversal as in treating patients who are on drugs/insulin and reversing the condition enough so that they are free of medication and in good control of bg.
If you remember which lecture or paper you read that mentions cure in this context I would be interested in seeing that.

In this video, he seems to use the terms reversal and cure interchangeably, which is how I tend to think of it. It's reversing the root cause of the condition which would be considered a cure.

 

[Pinkorchid]

That sounds a sure cure for diabetes and I would love to hear from anyone who has tried Dr. Fung’s program. I might decide to give it a go as well.

Well to date there is no know cure for diabetes we only know with diet and or medication it can be controlled When someone has really found a cure for diabetes it will make world wide headlines and will be the biggest breakthrough in modern day medical conditions

 

[Guzzler]

In this video, he seems to use the terms reversal and cure interchangeably, which is how I tend to think of it. It's reversing the root cause of the condition which would be considered a cure.

I suppose it comes down to interpretation of cure. Doctors can put some cases of cancer into remission but still fail to cure it. As I said, the true proof of cure would be a return, fully, to a western diet without consequences and I am not of the opinion that this can be proved. Who would risk trying it? However, I understand your viewpoint.

 

[oldsle]

I suppose it comes down to interpretation of cure. Doctors can put some cases of cancer into remission but still fail to cure it. As I said, the true proof of cure would be a return, fully, to a western diet without consequences and I am not of the opinion that this can be proved. Who would risk trying it? However, I understand your viewpoint.

I think one of the points he and others try to make is that why would you want to return fully to a diet that helped cause the disease in the first place? I have heard him say that, after reversing it, and you want to indulge in a high carb meal, have a day of fasting. So it does sound like you can return to it, up to a point.