How permanent is the effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance?

There are tons of questions about intermittent fasting, like these:
- How permanent is the effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance?
- Does whey protein supplements help lower blood sugars?
Dr. Jason Fung is one of the world’s leading experts on fasting for weight loss or diabetes reversal. Here are a his answers to those questions and more:
Fasting and insulin resistance
Dr Fung,
I have a few questions:
1. How permanent is the IF on the insulin resistance? After you lower the insulin resistance through a regimen of fasting, is it sustainable or you have to do it for life. As you mentioned, most weight loss diet are not reversible. So I wonder whether IF is sustainable.
2. In this study, it is mentioned that whey protein helps to lower blood sugar. For me, I take Whey after a gym regimen to help to build muscles. I am TD2. Is it harmful to take whey (not excessive – just about one spoonful provided by the Whey protein can).
3. What about Monk Fruit (natural – not processed). Is it OK to drink that or mix it with your drink?
Seng
Dr. Jason Fung:
1. It is not permanent. It’s like taking a bath. You can’t do it once and expect to be clean forevere.
2. I don’t recommend it. Stick to real food.
3. No.
Aspirin
Dr. Fung, thanks for the reply to previous questions, now have one about baby aspirin. I’ve been taking a daily baby aspirin in addition to all the oils for blood lubricity, and with all the bad press I’ve been reading lately I’m beginning to question the wisdom of that. I’m thinking the oils I’m taking : fish oils, avocado oils, olive oils, Vit E in tocotrienol form, and Vit. D’s, are enough to keep blood lubed up plenty good. Question is do I really need the baby aspirin. I know from your book “The Obesity Code” that you don’t seem to hot on the idea of aspirin. Whats the verdict?
1. Does aspirin artifically stimulate insulin?
2. Is aspirin a good thing to be taking regularly to help prevent heart attacks?
3. Other then use for a say, monthly headache is aspirin something a person wants in their diet?
Thanx in advance Doc !
Jimmy
Dr. Jason Fung:
1. No
2. No. Only in secondary prevention. The recommendation that everybody of the age of 60 take an aspirin a day is old and has since been retracted. It is a drug and has use in specific patient groups, not everybody willy-nilly.
3. No.
Intolerance to dairy and fasting tricks
Hi Dr Fung – thank you for your reply to my previous questions.
I’m now on Day 3 of my fast and feel good.
I introduced double cream (15mls) to each of my 3 coffees today, and it is becoming clear that I am intolerant to dairy products as my skin has already deteriorated after improving over the first 2 days of the fast. So:
1) Could I substitute canned coconut milk for the double cream? (15mls / serving x 3)
Also
2) Are micronutrients stored within fat cells in the body. If not, how do you maintain electrolyte balance whilst fasting?
3) Would taking 2 tbsps raw organic apple cider vinegar daily be a good idea whilst fasting?
4) You suggested alternate day fasting at the end of a fast. – would this be a water fast or 500 calories as suggested by Dr Krista Varady in The Every Other Day Diet?
Margaret
Jo
Dr. Jason Fung:
1. Yes. Try coconut cream instead of coconut milk. It’s delicious.
2. A general multi-vitamin supplement for extended fasts.
3. Yes
4. Either works.
More
Intermittent Fasting for Beginners
More questions and answers
Many more questions and answers:
Read Dr. Jason Fung’s new great book The Obesity Code for many more insights:
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I am new to your website but have been doing LCHF for about 18months. I am keen to try Intermittent fasting, I did 2 days last week and found I had no problem and liked the results.(I did no exercise on those days). I do quite a bit of running and have just completed a marathon. My runs at the moment are not long as I am still recovering.
I normally run early in the mornings in a fasted state. My question is, is it ok to do Intermittent fasting while exercising or should I be consuming a meal of good carbs, fats and protein post exercise even if it's of short duration (30 minutes).
Thank you
30 minutes is what everbody should do.. att least!
If you use small amounts of "pure" fat it's even better than cream. :)
Your book is excellent. I have been fasting every other day for 36 hours or more. On the fasting days I have not been doing any insulin. My blood sugar climbs back up to around 122 on fasting days. On food days I take insulin, 15 ml twice daily. Should I be taking any insulin on my fasting days? Thank you.
Thank you,
highly curious medical student
Please check with your doctor regarding the safety of fasting with Lupus and timing of your medications.
I've lost nearly 10% of my body weight in the last six weeks, and I've never felt more in control of my body weight and food intake in my life. Your books have been life-changing for me, and there are no words to adequately communicate my gratitude.
I've been telling EVERYONE about your books. The unofficial sub-title I've given both The Obesity Code and The Complete Guide to Fasting is 'an owner's manual for your mouth'. Yours to use in publication without attribution, should you so wish.
Thank you, so much, Dr. Fung.
Let's take a step back for a moment and check out this article on diabetes with fresh eyes. https://www.dietdoctor.com/diabetes The evidence basing within this article confirms that a low carb/keto diet is an excellent tool in the fight against Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Then, consider starting our 10 Week Weight Loss for Good Course. Sometimes, after a long while on a journey by ourselves, we get off the path without even realizing it. This may be the perfect opportunity for you to get back on track and see results in both your blood glucose and your weight. https://www.dietdoctor.com/how-to-lose-weight/10-weeks
I had been prediabetic for 15 years, with fasting glucose levels at between 105 and 115. I had the tingly hands and feet and a bit of belly fat but more edema, in part due to writing books. I went onto a IF regimen and whacked the lectins per Dr. Gundry's recommendations. I lost thirty pounds in just a few months, now at 6'-0" and 165#.
I get a fasting glucose number monthly along with hemoglobin and ferritin (donate blood regularly). Now, after 30 months of IF (I'm 68), the glucose went down all right, but only to 95-98, even after a fast of 18 hours.
The complication is that I do heavy and occasionally dangerous high-skill labor (such as tree climbing with a chainsaw) along with writing, research, and high acuity manual work, so I can't afford to be light headed or I could wind up with a rather severe health problem of another sort! The time of dinner is regulated by when my wife gets home from work, which can mean that we don't finish up eating unitl 10:00PM (I work late in the summer time anyway). So for me to do intermittent fasting, it has to be through the morning until past lunch hour. Coffee helps in the morning, but the results are iffy until noon to one, when I'm feeling a bit better.
So now after 2-1/2 years of this routine, I'm wondering if I have to do something more extreme to get the fasting glucose back down to the high 80s to low 90s where it belongs OR how much longer should I expect it to take to get there with 14-17 hours of daily IF? Are my goals unrealistic or is there some other approach I should be taking?
Thanks!
Hi, Mark! We are unable to give medical advice, and we would recommend discussing this with your physician. If you'd like to try contacting Dr. Fung directly, you can try his website. https://www.thefastingmethod.com/