The '5:2 Diet' refers to an intermittent fasting method where individuals eat normally without calorie restrictions for five days a week and consume only 500-600 kcal for two days. It has been reported that actors Jennifer Aniston and Chris Pratt, as well as former UK Treasury Secretary George Osborne, practiced this eating method, which has garnered attention. Recently, the health benefits of the 5:2 Diet have been scientifically proven.

 

Today's Diabetes Letter: a two-line summary

The 5:2 diet has a high effectiveness in improving blood sugar levels and body weight.

You should try after consulting with your primary care physician.

"5:2 Diet, Excellent Effects on Blood Sugar and Weight Improvement"

A research team at a hospital in Beijing, China, conducted a 16-week follow-up study on 405 early diabetes patients who were obese or overweight. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: a 5:2 diet group, a metformin group (0.5g twice daily), and an empagliflozin group (10mg once daily).

 

As a result, the HbA1c levels in the 5:2 diet group decreased by an average of 1.6%, followed by a 1.6% reduction in the metformin group and a 1.5% reduction in the empagliflozin group. 80% of the 5:2 diet group achieved HbA1c levels below 6.5%. Even after an 8-week follow-up observation, 76.6% of the 5:2 diet group maintained HbA1c levels below 6.5%. The 5:2 diet group experienced an average weight loss of 9.7 kg, while the metformin group lost 5.5 kg, and the empagliflozin group lost 5.8 kg.

 

Good effects but also a drawback that it's difficult to practice consistently over the long term

 

The 5:2 diet has excellent health benefits, but it is difficult to maintain over the long term.

 

Most people find it difficult to maintain weight by limiting calorie intake. A research team from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands analyzed 13 studies on topics such as intermittent fasting, periodic fasting, and alternate-day fasting conducted on diabetes patients. As a result, intermittent fasting under professional supervision was temporarily effective for diabetes patients, but none of the cases were sustained for several months or longer. Efforts are needed to find the most suitable and sustainable long-term method for individual patients.

 

Professor Park Jung-hyun of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Busan Baek Hospital said, "It is advisable to implement the 5:2 diet for a short period, considering each patient's medication details and physical condition, and then modify the diet plan according to their subsequent state."

 

It should be attempted as early as possible in the diagnosis.

 

So, which diabetic patients are suitable for the 5:2 diet? It is recommended for early diabetic patients who have been diagnosed relatively recently. Among them, it is particularly helpful for obese or overweight patients diagnosed with diabetes within the past five years.

 

Professor Park Jung-hyun stated, "Previous studies have shown that various forms of intermittent fasting lasting from as short as 2 weeks to 8 weeks significantly improve weight, blood sugar, and metabolic indicators," and "In cases of mild early diabetes, remission can also be expected." He added, "Especially for early patients who are overweight or obese, managing both blood sugar and weight is a very desirable treatment approach."

 

On the other hand, it is not recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes for a long time. When the duration of diabetes is long, prolonged fasting increases the risk of hypoglycemia, and eating a large amount of food after fasting can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes for a long time have increased risk of complications if blood sugar variability becomes large, so the 5:2 diet is not recommended.

 

Consultation with your primary care physician is essential.

 

Before practicing the 5:2 diet, consulting with a professional is essential. If your food intake changes from your usual habits, hypoglycemia may occur. Professor Park said, "Diabetes medication is prescribed based on the assumption that patients eat a certain amount of food at scheduled times, so if the meal size suddenly decreases, the risk of hypoglycemia increases."

 

Among the medications, insulin and sulfonylurea drugs carry a higher risk of hypoglycemia and require particular caution. If you want to try the 5:2 diet, consult with your healthcare provider to appropriately adjust medication dosages and carefully monitor blood sugar levels using continuous glucose monitors or other methods.

 

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It's a good diet in the beginning.

5 to 2... I've never seen this kind of diet before...

 

Consulting with the doctor is essential.

 

It may also be early-stage diabetes, but

 

Generally, even people who are dieting

I think it will be effective.