Insulin Resistance and Intermittent Fasting

UsedToBeHusky
UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've considered intermittent fasting in the past. Recently, I've been thinking a lot about breakfast. Since I can't really find a high protein option that appeals to me, it seems like it might be a good time to try IF. Unfortunately, I have insulin resistance (clinically diagnosed). I am taking Metformin to correct it, but is IF recommended for patients with insulin resistance?

I know I should ask my doctor and I will when I see him in August. I just was curious if anyone had a hard and fast answer to this question. I may abandon the idea completely before I see my doctor.

Replies

  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Bump... anyone?
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Do it!
    IF is going to increase your insulin sensitivity.
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    I have IR, along with a thyroid issue, and I just started IFing -- one of the reasons I started looking into it was because of the increased insulin sensitivity certain types of IFers experienced. I've only been doing it for a few weeks, but I've seen good results in weight loss. I haven't had any blood tests yet, but my A1C numbers have been going down as I've been losing weight generally.

    I also found it is what broke through my plateau. I was at the same weight for 6 weeks or so, bouncing between the same two lbs, but then I started the 5:2 plan and it finally broke. A month later, I'm down 6 lbs, so I'm pretty pleased with the results (I've only got 10-15 lbs left to lose).

    I also found fasting 2 days a week not to be hard at all. I really put off trying it because I thought it would just be waaaaay too hard. But, I've found it to be shockingly manageable and a great way to create that weekly deficit without the hormonal shifts seen is long term daily caloric restriction.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    IF is a fad diet and not recommended to anyone by doctors who are worth their salt. It's one of those things doctors won't advocate but will not give you a very hard time about, if you're eating healthy food, so long as you don't have special issues, which you do!

    You should be following the instructions the doctor gave you when he explained your new diagnosis. If you don't remember, call the office. They should be able to send you something.

    Check the ADA site or Livestrong if you must get your medical diet advice online instead of from a doctor.

    This is not a forum for medical advice and is generally less focused on health than weight loss.

    Please update us with what you decide to do. :)
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    IF is a fad diet and not recommended to anyone by doctors who are worth their salt. It's one of those things doctors won't advocate but will not give you a very hard time about, if you're eating healthy food, so long as you don't have special issues, which you do!

    You should be following the instructions the doctor gave you when he explained your new diagnosis. If you don't remember, call the office. They should be able to send you something.

    Check the ADA site or Livestrong if you must get your medical diet advice online instead of from a doctor.

    This is not a forum for medical advice and is generally less focused on health than weight loss.

    Please update us with what you decide to do. :)

    Ugh. Some of us have these conditions and consult with doctors -- we're sharing the information we've learned on our paths.

    IFing is not a fad -- it's how people ate for millenia. Constant food availability is a relatively new thing in evolutionary terms. And there has been quite a bit of research done on various types of IFing and certain results. Two things they're seeing are increased insulin sensitivity and shifts in IGF-2 levels.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Yes. And my doctor has recommended fasting.
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    @Kalikel:

    IF is neither a fad nor a diet -- it is calorie timing protocol, nothing more. A person may choose to eat below, at, or above their TDEE in calories while in the feeding window of one of the several variations of IF protocols.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    IF is a fad diet and not recommended to anyone by doctors who are worth their salt. It's one of those things doctors won't advocate but will not give you a very hard time about, if you're eating healthy food, so long as you don't have special issues, which you do!

    You should be following the instructions the doctor gave you when he explained your new diagnosis. If you don't remember, call the office. They should be able to send you something.

    Check the ADA site or Livestrong if you must get your medical diet advice online instead of from a doctor.

    This is not a forum for medical advice and is generally less focused on health than weight loss.

    Please update us with what you decide to do. :)

    As I said, I will talk to my doctor about it. I just wanted to know if anybody could tell me anything about it.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    IF is a fad diet and not recommended to anyone by doctors who are worth their salt. It's one of those things doctors won't advocate but will not give you a very hard time about, if you're eating healthy food, so long as you don't have special issues, which you do!

    You should be following the instructions the doctor gave you when he explained your new diagnosis. If you don't remember, call the office. They should be able to send you something.

    Check the ADA site or Livestrong if you must get your medical diet advice online instead of from a doctor.

    This is not a forum for medical advice and is generally less focused on health than weight loss.

    Please update us with what you decide to do. :)

    As I said, I will talk to my doctor about it. I just wanted to know if anybody could tell me anything about it.
    I'm just saying that getting medical advice here (or anywhere online, really) is unwise. We don't know you and your condition and we aren't doctors.

    But you don't have to wait for August. You can call your doctor anytime.

    It is, of course, up to you and you should do what YOU want and not what I advise. Of course! :)
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I have IR, along with a thyroid issue, and I just started IFing -- one of the reasons I started looking into it was because of the increased insulin sensitivity certain types of IFers experienced. I've only been doing it for a few weeks, but I've seen good results in weight loss. I haven't had any blood tests yet, but my A1C numbers have been going down as I've been losing weight generally.

    I also found it is what broke through my plateau. I was at the same weight for 6 weeks or so, bouncing between the same two lbs, but then I started the 5:2 plan and it finally broke. A month later, I'm down 6 lbs, so I'm pretty pleased with the results (I've only got 10-15 lbs left to lose).

    I also found fasting 2 days a week not to be hard at all. I really put off trying it because I thought it would just be waaaaay too hard. But, I've found it to be shockingly manageable and a great way to create that weekly deficit without the hormonal shifts seen is long term daily caloric restriction.

    When you get your A1C tested, could you come back to this thread and update me. I would love to hear your results.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    Some say yes, some say no. It's probably too early in the research to know for sure. Here are links to recent research on intermittent fasting to help you make your own decisions -- but I'd still talk to your doctor before you make major changes:

    http://jap.physiology.org/content/99/6/2128

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12724520

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15741046

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24176004

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/90/5/1244.full
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    IF is a fad diet and not recommended to anyone by doctors who are worth their salt. It's one of those things doctors won't advocate but will not give you a very hard time about, if you're eating healthy food, so long as you don't have special issues, which you do!

    You should be following the instructions the doctor gave you when he explained your new diagnosis. If you don't remember, call the office. They should be able to send you something.

    Check the ADA site or Livestrong if you must get your medical diet advice online instead of from a doctor.

    This is not a forum for medical advice and is generally less focused on health than weight loss.

    Please update us with what you decide to do. :)

    As I said, I will talk to my doctor about it. I just wanted to know if anybody could tell me anything about it.
    I'm just saying that getting medical advice here (or anywhere online, really) is unwise. We don't know you and your condition and we aren't doctors.

    But you don't have to wait for August. You can call your doctor anytime.

    It is, of course, up to you and you should do what YOU want and not what I advise. Of course! :)

    You are right. I will call him after the holiday. I'm going on vacation. And I understand what you are saying. I wasn't looking for medical advice. Just wanted to know more about the method with regards to insulin resistance. I'm not really considering the 5:2 method, although, it would seem that some have used it with good results. I actually just wanted to skip breakfast, honestly.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    I've tried IF and it didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped.

    I'm on Metformin as well and currently get FBG under 100mg/dl and keep my 1 hr PP BG's to under 130mg/dl, 140mg/dl if I indulge.
    I started out with an A1c of 9.6 (if I remember correctly) and at last check it was 6.0.

    Though I've been able to get far better numbers since I've last had it checked.

    IF must stress my body out too much cause all it ever did was increase my BG :grumble: I seem to be the oddball as I've only heard of it decreasing BG's. I think it has something to do with increasing cortisol levels, or something.

    Lucky me :sick:
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    By the way...ADA site & Livestrong....no offence intended, but in my opinion, the absolute *worst* places to get advice on this subject.:huh:

    bloodsugar101.com :drinker:
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    By the way...ADA site & Livestrong....no offence intended, but in my opinion, the absolute *worst* places to get advice on this subject.:huh:

    bloodsugar101.com :drinker:

    Yes. I 100% agree with that.
  • DebbyLynn4
    DebbyLynn4 Posts: 1
    I intend to start the 16/8 intermittent fasting with morning exercise. Already lost 40+ lbs through Medifast but am tired of the plan...I need to switch things up a bit so will experiment with this. My blood sugar levels dropped dramatically with Medifast so will see if I can at least maintain but really hope to lose my final 10-15 lbs with IF. Will keep you updated.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I intend to start the 16/8 intermittent fasting with morning exercise. Already lost 40+ lbs through Medifast but am tired of the plan...I need to switch things up a bit so will experiment with this. My blood sugar levels dropped dramatically with Medifast so will see if I can at least maintain but really hope to lose my final 10-15 lbs with IF. Will keep you updated.

    Thanks. I really appreciate the helpful information from all of you.
  • TrailNurse
    TrailNurse Posts: 359 Member
    IF is not a fad diet.....it is the well intended timing of appropraite calories. Studies have shown IF to improve insulin resistence and diabetes. If done right and on a regular basis, you will probably need less Metformin. Let your doctor know what you are doing so he/she is not surprised by your HBA1C and Glucose test. Also focus on protein and veges post fast.

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