Intermittent Fasting Study for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

One known cause of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is beta-cell dysfunction, which refers to the inability of the beta-cells of the pancreas to produce enough insulin for the body's needs. Unfortunately, no anti-diabetic medication or lifestyle intervention has been shown to prevent the worsening of beta-cell function over time. Interestingly, however intermittent fasting (IF) - where no food is consumed o

ver a period of time - has been shown to promote weight loss and improve cardio-metabolic function. In individuals with T2DM, it is also been shown to improve glycemic control (i.e. While no research has studied whether IF can improve pancreatic beta-cell function, the positive metabolic effects suggest that it could provide some benefit. We are currently recruiting for a research study that is designed to evaluate whether IF can improve pancreatic beta-cell function in individuals with early T2DM, as compared to a standard lifestyle recommendation. Approximately 50 individuals will be taking part in this study and it will last 5-months.