In Dr. Jason Fung style, I have incorporated intermittent fasting into my lifestyle for the past 10 days (since I say one of Dr. Fung’s YouTube videos). I am a 48yo woman who found out that I was prediabetic on June of 2012, and immediately started a low carb lifestyle. I am posting this letter because I always thought that fasting would not work for me because I got dizzy and grumpy if I went without food for very long at all, and also because I noticed that my blood glucose was higher if I skipped meals. To summarize, I was completely wrong about fasting. Fasting is the free, simple and best answer to reducing insulin levels and overcoming blood sugar and weight issues. Period. If you are medications, you will need to work with a health practitioner, but otherwise, anyone who is over 18, not pregnant, and not nursing a baby can begin to experiment with this. Check out Dr. Fung’s videos, his book, his podcasts. This is simply the very best way to deal with diabetes and prediabetes and weight loss for most people! I cannot believe how great the last 10 days have been, and if I did not know about fasting, I would want someone to tell me about it. Ironically, I always thought it just wouldn’t work for me, and so I immediately dismissed any suggestions of fasting until 10 days ago. If you are curious, please do not hesitate to ask me questions. After 4 years of trying so many, many things to lower my A1c and my weight, it is so exciting to finally find something that is working so well. This is the perfect complement to a low carb lifestyle.
What benefits have you seen from IF. Have you lost weight? Did your fasting insulin levels drop? Did you have them tested?
I have done IF at times over a number of years. What I have found is that it is difficult to do for extended times and the effect wears off after a month or two.
I consider intermittent fasting to be my most dependable tool to restore metabolic sanity. I first noticed the effect whenever I had to fast for a blood draw or medical procedure my blood glucose calmed down. I limit my daily carbs but doing an intermittent fast once per week really helps me. I only eat two meals per day with a small snack thrown in. So, if I skip breakfast and eliminate an evening snack then I can fast for 24 hours.
I come at this situation from a slightly different angle as I need to administer all my insulin though a needle. But if I’m fasting, my insulin needs go way down. That does allow the body to convert to fat burning.
Here’s a three-day CGM series. On the third day I skipped breakfast and the requisite insulin dose. It’s dramatic.
Fast day
I’m coming off a period of more freely eating what I wanted. I was on a seven day cruise where I ate way more desserts than I usually do. This fast interrupted that whole trend and restored better numbers.
I haven’t watched the Fung videos but I did read some on his philosophy. I get the concept and have successfully used it to help with my diabetes. It’s a sound practice.
IF works wonders for me! However, I’m not very good at it. Back in the day of not-so-well controlled D, I was a grazer. I would snack throughout the day. For the past several years, I have stopped doing this, but sometimes I just don’t resist temptation. I, did, however, just start a new job where I"m working 12 hour shifts. I will eat at 6am (if I don’t I get high), then not again 'till 1pm or so. I get home from work a little after 7pm, and sometimes I don’t eat until the next morning. The days I work my BG are almost perfect!! If I am able to keep myself busy on my days off, I can keep up the good numbers, but I tend to eat out of boredom. I think IF is a wonderful tool to utilize for those willing and able.
Excellent questions, Brian. Upon re-reading my letter, I sound awfully certain for someone only 10 days into this new, for me, discovery! I am very excited–this is simply the best thing I have discovered in the last 4 years of searching–and I cannot stand not sharing this with anyone who will listen. 
Anyway, benefits so far: weight loss–6 pounds in 10 days, and lower fasting glucose–from 125 down to 86. In addition, I am no longer feeling shaky and angry when I skip meals, and I feel more mental clarity and energy than I used to feel (which is saying a lot, because I have had abundant energy since going low carb 4 years ago!). One other thing, I am making faster gains in my twice-a-week weight lifting practice, and also feel like I am performing my twice-a-week Yoga sessions more intensely and pleasurably. Just feeling more positive about everything, really–hard to measure that, but still it is true for me. I next get my fasting insulin tested in mid-June and will report back then. I started with a 4 day fast, and I don’t think I will fast that long again because I found myself a bit achy, and I also woke several times throughout the night. In addition, I found it really not fun to not eat. Since the 4 day fast, I have been fasting at least 15 hours each day, and sometimes 24 hours. I just break the fast when I am ready to break it–just following my internal clock… One other interesting thing–in the 10 days that I have been doing this IF, I have been less careful about carbs. I have allowed myself to eat plantains,hite potatoes, wine and even some gluten-free processed desserts! I am finding it very ironic that I am less careful about my carbs–eating worse than usual (although to be fair, I am still an very healthy eater–lots of garden greens and herbs, organ meats, fermented foods, bone broth, and healthy fats), and yet continuing to drop weight. (Note: I have been high fat, low carb, moderate protein for the last 4 years, and during that time gained 40 pounds. I went from never having a weight problem in my life, to being considered obese by my doctors–all while I was eating super healthy!). I imagine that I will need to include fasting for at least 12 hours a day for the rest of my life in order to remain insulin sensitive. My understanding is that the longer someone has had insulin resistance, the longer it takes to get over it… But I will say this–I am just a beginner–learning all the time! Love hearing other folks stories and what is working and not working for them…
Thank you for sharing your story! So excited to find another person who has had good luck with IF! I totally relate to eating differently on different days. I am sooo tired of eating perfectly, and am now starting to just enjoy food a little more after 4 years of being very, very strict. I finally feel like I know how to get healthier. It is a very nice feeling…
Wow–great graphics! Thank you, Terry. So exciting to know that this works for you, and that you can come back from having a more relaxed eating period because you have this great tool (IF) to get things going in the right direction again. So awesome. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I don’t know if you saw this one from this year,he also promotes alternate day fasting
Awesome! Thanks, Jack! I hadn’t seen this video. I had read his great blog on “The Biggest Loser” diet, and liked it. But this video was–as so many of Dr. Jung’s talks are–very entertaining and humorous as well as informational.