- A Chinese study suggests that a 5:2 intermittent fasting diet with meal replacement may be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes..
- Researchers reported that participants on the eating plan had better blood sugar control and weight loss over 16 weeks compared to those taking diabetes medication.
- The 5:2 diet is an option for people with type 2 diabetes, but it may not be suitable for everyone, experts say.
People with type 2 diabetes may benefit from a 5:2 intermittent fasting diet that includes meal replacements.
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“In this randomized clinical trial of 405 adults, the 5:2 meal replacement approach achieved better glycemic control over 16 weeks compared with metformin or empagliflozin,” the study authors wrote.
“The 5:2 meal replacement diet may serve as an early lifestyle intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes and may be an alternative to the use of metformin and empagliflozin medications,” the researchers added.
The study involved 405 Chinese adults who were obese or overweight and had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past year.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either metformin, empagliflozin, or a 5:2 meal replacement plan for 16 weeks. All participants also received instruction on exercise, diet, and diabetes education every four weeks.
Participants in the 5:2 meal replacement group used meal replacements on two non-consecutive days each week. Meal replacements are prepackaged foods or drinks that can be used to replenish energy in place of regular meals.
On the meal replacement day, participants consumed one meal replacement instead of three regular meals, equating to an intake of 500 calories for women and 600 calories for men.
For the remaining five days, participants in the 5:2 group were encouraged to eat whatever they wanted for breakfast and lunch while monitoring their calorie intake. For dinner, they ate a meal replacement.
The researchers reported that subjects in the 5:2 meal replacement group experienced the greatest reduction in mean HbA1C blood sugar levels over the three months. They also experienced greater weight loss and greater reductions in waist and hip circumference than the other two groups.
Dr. Marilyn TanAn endocrinologist at Stanford University in California, who was not involved in the study, said intermittent fasting may be beneficial for some people with type 2 diabetes.
“Intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating has attracted a lot of interest and has been shown to be effective for people with type 2 diabetes in many studies. The metabolic benefits are thought to be due to both the timing of specific meals and reduced caloric intake. Because intermittent fasting focuses on timing rather than content of food, many patients find it easier to adhere to than other more common diets,” she said. Today's Medical News.
“Extreme diets that are very restrictive can be difficult to stick to in the long term and can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which is why intermittent fasting diets tend to be more sustainable as they place less emphasis on food content,” Tan added. “There is no one-size-fits-all diet for diabetes and it is important that whatever diet you choose is sustainable in the long term. Many people are able to stick to more restrictive diets in the short term, but once they stop the diet, blood sugar control and weight often go back to where they were before.”
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Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include being over 45 years old, having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, and being less physically active.
Type 2 diabetes can be managed with exercise and a healthy diet. Insulin and diabetes medications can also be used to manage blood sugar levels.
Dana HannesDiet is an important factor for people with type 2 diabetes, says Dr. Ian McGrath, PhD, senior nutritionist supervisor at RR-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study.
“Diet and eating patterns are a really important issue for people with type 2 diabetes. What we eat can either increase inflammation, increase insulin resistance and raise blood sugar levels, or it can reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the amount of insulin and medication needed to control blood sugar levels. So what we eat, when we eat and how we eat make a difference,” she said. Today's Medical News.
The American Diabetes Association “Diabetes Plate” As a framework for creating meals.
The idea is to start with a 9-inch plate and fill half of it with non-starchy vegetables. The remaining quarter of the plate should be lean protein, and the final quarter should be made up of quality carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, starchy vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.
Tan noted that although participants in the 5:2 meal replacement group experienced weight loss and blood sugar control benefits, meal replacements may not be a long-term solution.
“Meal replacements usually provide a fairly accurate calorie count and can help limit carbohydrates and calories. However, they don't necessarily help patients as a long-term solution to real life situations. It's much easier to follow a specific diet when you're isolated. But when you add in social and work situations, travel/vacations, special events, etc., patients need tools to navigate these solutions. For most people, going on meal replacements alone long-term is not financially sustainable or satisfying,” she said.
Grant Brinkworth “These findings are a reflection of the findings of the study, which is a step towards improving diabetes management,” said Dr. Today's Medical News People with type 2 diabetes should talk to their doctors about the best ways to achieve sustainable weight loss and diabetes control.
“There is no one weight loss method that works for everyone with type 2 diabetes. It is well established that type 2 diabetes remission can be achieved with significant weight loss, but remission is not possible for everyone. The method you use to achieve sustainable weight loss is a personal decision that you should make in consultation with a health care professional,” said Brinkworth, who was not involved in the study.
