After 10-12 hours of fasting, the body begins to scavenge other sources of energy throughout the body in order to sustain itself. The benefit to prediabetics, Dr. Horne's team believes, is that because the body feasts on the LDL (or "bad") cholesterol in fat cells it negates the effect of insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance is when insulin production becomes so high that the pancreas can no longer produce the body's required levels of insulin, which causes blood sugar to rise.
"The fat cells themselves are a major contributor to insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes," Dr. Horne explains. "Because fasting may help to eliminate and break down fat cells, insulin resistance may be frustrated by fasting."
Although fasting may protect against diabetes, Dr. Horne reminds that it is important to keep in mind that fasting did not achieve overnight results. He adds that more in-depth study is needed to define what the optimum length and frequency of fasting should be in prediabetics.
"Fasting has the potential to become an important diabetes intervention," he says. "Though we've studied fasting and its health benefits for years, we didn't know why fasting could provide the health benefits we observed related to the risk of diabetes."
Written by David McNamee
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