Introduction

Fasting, observed across cultures for spiritual and health benefits, involves the body switching from glucose to fat burning for energy. While it can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce diabetes risk, it poses dangers like hypoglycemia and dehydration, especially for diabetics. Consulting a doctor is crucial for safe fasting practices and diabetes management.

With the ongoing festive season, we see many people fasting. Fasting has different significance in various cultures. For instance, in Hinduism, fasting or upavas is not just abstaining from food but a conscious effort of devotion, self-purification, and discipline. The Greeks saw it as a path to mental clarity, as
philosophers like Pythagoras and Plato reportedly fasted to sharpen their intellect and spirit. In Christianity, Lent is observed as a period of penance and preparation, whereas in Islam, Roza emphasises empathy, self-control, and gratitude. While fasting has spiritual and health benefits, when done incorrectly, it can do more harm than good. Let’s understand how fasting works, its benefits and risks.

How fasting works

We know that diabetes, particularly Type 2, often occurs from insulin resistance. During the initial phase of fasting, the body uses up its stored glucose to keep energy levels stable. When glucose runs low, it switches to burning fat. The liver breaks down fat into ketorne bodies, an alternative fuel source that powers the body in the absence of sugar. A key player here is glucagon which stimulates glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and lipolysis signals the body to release and convert fat into energy. After about four days, the body begins drawing more deeply on fat reserves in the liver, pancreas, and around internal organs. Throughout this process, glucagon ensures blood sugar doesn’t fall too sharply, It is released when glucose drops, such as during fasting or exercise, and continues to stimulate fat breakdown, particularly in areas that most affect metabolic health.