Fasting with Type 1 Diabetes

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In the type 1 community, food and eating habits are not only a common subject of conversation, but a necessary component of management. A common dietary practice that is important to acknowledge in this space is fasting.

Things to keep in mind when fasting with type 1 diabetes:

• If your basal/background insulin dose(s) is too high, you could experience low blood sugars during fasting. If this happens, talk to your doctor about creating a reduced basal/background insulin plan for the days you expect to be fasting.
• Skipping breakfast can actually cause a rise in blood sugar levels because your liver will release stored glucose (glycogen) to give your brain the fuel it needs to function. You can talk to your doctor about compensating for this by taking a very small bolus of insulin at the time the rise in blood sugar occurs.
• Learning how to manage blood sugar levels while fasting takes a bit of practice, trial and error. It simply comes down to fine-tuning your insulin doses.
• Whenever fasting, keep sources of fast-acting carbohydrates nearby to treat any potential low blood sugars. Check your blood sugar frequently during the fasting period to ensure you are safe!

Religious Reasons

There are many different reasons for fasting and sometimes it cannot be avoided. Religious and spiritual fasting manifests in many different practices and belief systems such as Judaism, Buddhism and Islam. Fasting before medical procedures like surgery or blood tests is often required. Additionally, fasting for detoxification, or “doing a cleanse” is a growing dietary practice. So, is it safe for those with type 1 diabetes to fast? If so, what are the best practices to follow while participating in a fast?

Most of the research regarding fasting and diabetes surrounds Ramadan and most often, the medical recommendation for those with diabetes is to avoid fasting. The main health risk is hypoglycemia—particularly if you continue taking insulin while fasting without regular blood glucose monitoring. If you do choose to fast for spiritual or personal reasons, talk with your healthcare provider about a plan and regularly monitor blood glucose to avoid health emergencies.

Safety first is the best practice, and this is recognized in most spiritual communities. I was raised Jewish and distinctly remember the announcements from our Rabbi during long Yom Kippur services pleading individuals in various circumstances to not fast for their own safety and instead display their faith through another outlet. Again, fasting may not be out of the question, just be sure to talk with your healthcare provider, create a plan and be flexible in stopping the fast if risks become too high.

Medical Procedures

When it comes to various medical procedures, fasting is often required. It is common that before a medical procedure people will release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol (both of which increase blood glucose levels in the blood) due to stress. In individuals without type 1 diabetes, insulin levels will increase to balance out the hormones. In patients with type 1 diabetes, insulin is not produced to balance out these changes and so may still need to be administered to maintain normal blood glucose levels even while fasting. This is one of the many reasons that managing type 1 diabetes while fasting before a medical procedure can be difficult. The good news is, you will be surrounded by medical professionals that can both advise you and help you if there is a problem.

Cleansing Diets

Detox diets refer to short term diets, ranging from a few days to a few weeks, which claim to help remove toxins from the body. Typically, these diets focus on exclusively drinking specific teas, juices, or eating specific vegetables such as cabbage. Currently, there is not much research showcasing the benefits and side effects of detox diets. They tend to be expensive, ones that contain herbal supplements are not tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may have unknown side effects, and they often do not teach or encourage people to stay healthy between detoxes.

With my background in nutrition, I personally do not understand the benefit of detox diets. Yes, the juices are generally jam-packed with nutrients and your body will get rid of a lot because you are feeding it a lot of fiber. Our bodies have the functionality to rid of toxins on its own when it needs to and we don’t need to force our bodies to do this—they’re pretty smart! Additionally—especially with type 1 diabetes—regularity in diet is extremely important and a cleanse might throw you more off balance. If you are interested in trying a cleanse or have used one in the past and liked it, right on! Just be sure to talk with your healthcare provider first and be aware of the risks.

Read Why the Paleo Diet is Good for Type 1 Diabetes by Caroline Potter.

WRITTEN BY Carly Crompton, POSTED 10/12/16, UPDATED 12/25/22

Carly is a Bay Area native and recent Cal Graduate. At UC Berkeley she studied Nutrition with a focus in physiology and metabolism following her passion for increasing awareness in nutrition and reconnecting with food. She is excited to work with an organization committed to taking action and changing the conversation around chronic disease. In her free time, Carly loves cooking, being outdoors and bringing home succulents.