While there have been many claims as to ways of controlling diabetes, none have garnished as much interest as the diabetes starvation diet. The claim is that starving a diabetic shocks their body into eventually healing themselves of the disease. While this sounds like a simple treatment that anyone could use, its validity is questionable.
This concept originally surfaced back in 1915. Since then it had fallen by the wayside, but has recently gathered new backing by those eager to find a cure for their condition. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as it appears.
Starvation goes against all medical knowledge
Diabetics know that one of the most important factors in diabetes management is to maintain glucose levels as much as possible. Skipping snacks is not recommended: skipping meals is certainly not advisable. So starvation is completely against all medical knowledge that doctors have available to them as far as maintaining this disease.
The thought of the diet is that starving the individual will bring about weight loss. Statistically, a vast majority of diabetics are either overweight or obese so losing weight is a viable option, as long as it is done in a reasonable manner. Completely eliminating food for periods of time throws the body into panic mode where it holds onto fat and starts to take what it needs away from muscle.
When you withhold food from a diabetic they will go into hypoglycemic episodes, which can be very dangerous. If not corrected, the individual could have to be hospitalized.
While limiting certain types of foods is advisable, it has to be done carefully so that the diabetic stills receives vital nutrients to ward off a diabetic attack.
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