There is something powerful about fasting. For many of us, it is woven into the way of life, a stagnation that is spiritual, cultural or simply personal. Maybe it’s the peace of Ramadan evenings, the discipline of a Buddhist routine, or the fasting days observed by your grandmother without even telling her so. The idea of relaxing the body has been around for thousands of years, long before scientists began studying what happens when we do so.
Now, this old practice has received new attention. Doctors and researchers are looking at fasting again, asking whether it could play a role in helping people with diabetes live better lives, or even reduce the risk of developing it. The conversation is cautious, yes, but promising. And it starts with understanding how something so ancient can fit into today’s very modern challenges.
From tradition to treatment
The act of fasting is as old as civilization. Records show that it dates back to around 1,500 BCE in the Vedic, Hindu and Jain traditions, where people fasted to reduce harm to plants and animals and practice abstinence. Buddhism introduced intermittent fasting as a conscious way of eating only for certain hours. Across cultures from India to China, the Middle East to Greece, fasting takes many forms but has a common theme: balance.
By the 19th and 20th centuries, fasting was being used not just for faith but for health. It was prescribed for diseases like arthritis, asthma and high blood pressure. Before the discovery of insulin, doctors also used fasting and calorie-restricted diets to help people with diabetes cope with symptoms.
Over time, diabetes care moved toward precision, glucose monitoring, insulin pumps, and oral medications like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists that help the body control sugar levels. These advances changed the lives of millions of people. But despite improved technology and treatments, the number of people developing type 2 diabetes continues to increase.
That reality has led science to look beyond medicine, toward prevention and reversal. And in that pursuit, fasting is making a quiet comeback.
what happens when the body rests
To understand why fasting is being studied, it helps to look at what happens when the body goes without food for a period of time.
Initially, your body relies on glucose, a sugar stored in the liver and muscles, to provide you with energy. When those reserves run out, it starts looking elsewhere for fuel. The liver begins to break down fats and produce ketone bodies, which are an alternative source of energy.
A hormone called glucagon secreted by the pancreas plays an important role in keeping everything stable. This prevents glucose levels from getting too low, signaling the body to start burning fat. Later, the body begins to accumulate deep fat stores, including the liver and pancreas. Researchers believe this process may help improve insulin sensitivity, although results vary widely from person to person.
Think of it as the body resetting its internal energy balance, moving from relying on quick sugars to relying on stored fat. This change is central to why fasting has become of interest again in the context of diabetes.
what the research shows
Since 2020, several studies have examined whether fasting can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes or help people already living with it. Early results suggest it may provide benefits such as¹,
- Improved insulin sensitivity, which means the body can use insulin more efficiently.
- Lower blood pressure and lower body fat, both important for cardiovascular and metabolic health.
- Improved cardiovascular markers are associated with a lower long-term risk of complications.
In one study, combining fasting with regular physical activity reportedly helped reverse type 2 diabetes in about 60% of participants who had been living with it for more than five years.¹ But doctors are quick to point out that these results are only effective if people continue to eat well and remain active. Once old habits return, the condition may worsen.
That’s the truth about fasting: It’s not magic. This may open the door to better control, but staying healthy still depends on what happens after that door is opened.
No one track method
There is no single formula for fasting. Some people fast for a few hours a day; Others go without food for an entire day or longer.
The most common forms are:
- Intermittent fasting, where you alternate between eating and fasting. Intermittent fasting comes in many forms, but the two most commonly followed patterns are the 16/8 pattern, eating within an eight-hour window and fasting until sixteen, and the 5:2 approach, which restricts calories on two non-consecutive days a week. Both approaches can help reduce calorie intake and encourage the body to use stored fat.
- Long-term fasting, lasting from 24 hours to several days.¹ These longer fasts can induce strong metabolic changes, but they carry greater risks and should only be done under medical supervision.
In both cases, structure matters. Having predictable eating windows helps the body adapt. But even more important is to understand your body’s limits, especially if you have diabetes or take medications that affect blood sugar.
The Other Side of Fasting: What Can Go Wrong
For people with diabetes, fasting is not as simple as skipping meals. This changes the way food, medicine, and energy balance work together and can be risky.
Possible complications include:
- Low or high blood sugar (hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia), depending on the timing of medication and food intake.
- Dehydration, especially during dry fasting or in hot weather.
- diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA),² A serious condition caused by increased levels of ketones in the blood.
These risks do not mean that fasting is off limits, only that it requires planning. A doctor or diabetes educator can help create a safe plan by adjusting medication, fluid intake, and glucose monitoring accordingly. For most people, this starts with having a glucometer at home and checking blood sugar regularly as advised, especially during fasting periods. SMBG and CGM can be useful for those who have access to them, but simple, continuous finger-stick monitoring remains the practical tool for the majority.
The main takeaway? Do not use alone. Even well-intentioned fasting can be dangerous if not medically supervised.
Fasting is not a cure, it’s a piece of a bigger picture
What makes fasting interesting is that it connects ancient wisdom with modern science. People have always believed that rest can bring balance to the body. Today, research is beginning to understand how this may work biologically.
Still, fasting alone is not enough. It works best when paired with balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, good sleep, and stress management. It’s part of a pattern, not the whole plan. Fasting can help reset the body, but it’s a steady lifestyle that keeps things in balance over time. The goal is not to pursue short-term results; It’s about finding a rhythm that is sustainable and safe.
looking ahead
Even after 4,000 years, we are still learning. Science is just beginning to answer key questions:
How long should people fast to see measurable benefits?
Who will benefit most?
And how can fasting be adopted safely for people with chronic conditions like diabetes?
Those answers will take time. But what is already clear is that fasting should find a place in the conversation, not as a replacement for medical care, but as part of a larger toolkit for prevention and wellness.
ground level
Fasting is not a competition or challenge. It’s a pause that has been part of human life long before we had a clinical name for it. For some, it may provide a path to better control, for others, a reminder of the importance of listening to the body’s signals.
If you have diabetes and are curious about fasting, the safest way to get started is to talk to your doctor. Discuss your medications, your diet, your lifestyle, and how to safely monitor your glucose.
Because fasting may be old, but what really matters is how thoughtfully we use it now, not as a shortcut, but as a step toward balance. Sometimes, it turns out that doing nothing for a while can help the body function a little better.
Reference:
- https://diabetesvoice.org/en/caring-for-diabetes/the-benefits-of-fasting-for-diabetes-management-and-prevention/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371551
Note to reader: This article is created by HT Brand Studio on behalf of Roche Diabetes Care India Pvt. Ltd. Ltd. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or endorsement. Please consult a registered medical practitioner for personal medical advice or before making any decisions regarding your health conditions or treatment options.
