Intermittent Fasting for Insulin-Treated Patients with Type 2 Diabetes?

Intermittent fasting — and one of its variants, “time-restricted eating” — are increasingly popular approaches to weight management. But are these methods feasible and safe for people with diabetes, especially those who take insulin? To address this question, Austrian researchers conducted a study that involved 46 carefully selected insulin-treated patients with longstanding type 2 diabetes; at baseline, mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) was 8.3%, mean weight was 100 kg, and mean daily insulin dose was 56 units.

Patients were randomized to either 3 nonconsecutive days of intermittent fasting weekly or to usual care. In the intervention group, patients ingested only 25% of their recommended caloric intake on fasting days; that intake was l…