Can the 5:2 fasting method control Type 2 diabetes?

Obesity is a known risk factor for diabetes. Weight reduction is recommended for the management of blood glucose levels in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. However, achieving weight loss through diet is often challenging for many patients.

For individuals with Type 2 diabetes who have a hard time sticking to a strict diet everyday, intermittent fasting is a good alternative.

The 5:2 fasting strategy

A diet strategy for weight loss called the 5:2 diet has been developed and studied. The 5:2 intermittent fasting diet involves 2 non-consecutive fasting days (one-fourth of the energy intake of a habitual diet) and 5 days of habitual intake per week.
For 5 days a week, you need to adhere to meeting the daily calorie intake advised for people of a healthy weight:
• 2,500 kcal per day for men
• 2,000 kcal per day for women
The other 2 days of the week the diet mandates consumption of only around 25% of the values mentioned above, which is equal to:
• Men should consume 600 kcal on these days
• Women should consume 500 kcal on these days

The fasting days can be taken at any time during the week. But avoid taking 2 fasting days consecutively.



The 5:2 diet method is based on the concept that on fasting days, the body will be forced to use stored energy from the body, fat, and stored sugar (glycogen). This particular method can help in weight loss and also improve cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Benefits of the 5: 2 fasting methods

• Weight loss
• Decrease in HbA1c levels
• Reduction in fasting blood glucose levels
• Reduction in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduction in insulin resistance

Who should NOT undergo the 5: 2 diet method?

The 5:2 diet method is NOT recommended for growing children, adults with diseases of the kidney, liver, or heart issues, elderly people, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Future research It has been hypothesized that combining the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet with meal restriction (5:2 MR) could provide additional benefits to patients. Long-term studies are required to study the benefits of heart health.

(Dr Lakshmi Nagendra, Associate Professor, Department of Endocrinology, JSS Medical College, Mysore)