KUWAIT CITY, July 3: A new study reveals that the 5:2 diet, which involves fasting for two days a week, is more effective than medication for individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, reports Al-Qabas daily. The 5:2 diet consists of eating normally for five days a week and fasting on the remaining two days, with a calorie intake of only 500 to 600 calories per fasting day.

According to the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, this dietary approach offers more benefits than anti-diabetic medications. The study involved 405 Chinese adults recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Participants were divided into groups: some were prescribed diabetes medications like metformin or empagliflozin, while others followed the 5:2 diet.

Those on the 5:2 diet fasted on two nonconsecutive days each week and consumed a normal diet on the other days, which included a typical breakfast, lunch, and a meal-replacement dinner. After 16 weeks, the 5:2 diet group showed a more significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), dropping from an average of 7.9% to 6% (a decrease of 1.9%). In comparison, reductions were 1.6% with metformin and 1.5% with empagliflozin. The 5:2 diet also led to greater weight loss, with participants losing an average of 9.7 kg (20.3 lb), compared to 5.5 kg (12.3 lb) in the metformin group and 5.8 kg (13.6 lb) in the empagliflozin group. Additionally, the 5:2 diet group experienced significant reductions in waist circumference, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

There were no significant differences in most metabolic markers except for triglycerides and HDL-C when compared to patients on antidiabetic medications. The researchers suggest that doctors should consider recommending the 5:2 diet to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. The diet not only improves blood sugar control and promotes weight loss but also lowers cholesterol levels. The authors conclude that the 5:2 diet “could serve as a first-line lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes patients, providing an alternative to metformin and empagliflozin.”