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Diabetic and former Diabetes genetic researcher here. To paraphrase an old mentor, curing diabetes in mice is kind of the sport of the field. It's been done a
by micro_cam 10y ago
Diabetic and former Diabetes genetic researcher here.
To paraphrase an old mentor, curing diabetes in mice is kind of the sport of the field. It's been done a number of times. Mice have some abilities to regrow tissue we don't. It's unclear how well various mouse models for diabetes mimic the human phenotypes.
I am very hopefully for this line of research in general but I expect any cure in humans will be more complex and perhaps also deal with somehow suppressing the immune response that destroys the Beta cells in type 1's like myself. For a type 1 the best I'd expect something like this to be able to achieve is a temporary return to the "honeymoon" period where the pancreas still produces enough insulin to make small adjustments but supplemental insulin is required.
On a personal level i have found that diet can have massive effects on my diabetes management. I may try a diet like this (with the advice of a doctor in adjusting insulin to handle it well etc and with the realization i may need to break the diet to treat low blood sugars etc). Edit: I also use a continuous glucose monitor which helps greatly with avoiding low bloodsugars while changing diet/activity levels and recommend one to any other diabetics.
- ecesena 10y ago"in mice" should be added to the title. this is (dangerous) clickbait.
- rando444 10y agoI don't think that I would call a low calorie diet that only lasts for a few days out of the entire month 'dangerous'.
- jlg23 10y agoAs the article pointed out it should not be tried without medical supervision, and the root of the comment thread also pointed out that s/he is using a continuous glucose monitor to prevent low blood sugar levels when changing or adjusting diets. For diabetics, diets, esp. radical diets can very easily lead to life-threatening situations.
- roywiggins 10y agoIt might be if you're diabetic...
- ecesena 10y agoIt's dangerous if you read "fasting can cure your diabetes", when the article is about mice. For the record, I have friends that are fasting, and family members with diabetes. If you have diabetes you can't fast without correcting the dosage of insulin that you're taking. If, for example, you take a normal dosage of insulin, but fail to consume the corresponding amount of sugars, your blood glucose level will start decreasing. Soon you will faint, and your level will still go down. Next step is coma, and finally death. So yes, I consider this dangerous. The article also says "People are advised not to try this without medical advice.", to reiterate that it is dangerous.
- micro_cam 10y agoIn addition to the risk of low blood sugars (hypoglycemia which can lead to coma) in diabetics there is also a risk that someone might try something like this and then forgo other treatment (say insulin or metformin) without properly monitoring to see if they still need.
- SonicSoul 10y ago'dangerous' for people who make major life changes based on headlines alone? I pray to Xenu they don't exist but if they do it seems like Darwinism at work.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- agumonkey 10y agoBTW, would pancreatic regeneration increase risk of developping tumors too ?
- micro_cam 10y agoSince this is now one of the top comments, I should have been clearer. If I try something like this I'll do so as part of the proud tradition of self experimentation with a hearty skepticism of it actually producing any lasting effect.
- cadr 10y agoFor what it's worth, I'm a T1D that has been in honeymoon for three years since diagnosis (with no external insulin) by going on a ketogenic diet. (Disclaimer - no one try this without consulting your endocrinologist...)
- doublerebel 10y agoA close friend is T1D and says going keto/LCHF over the last year changed his life. Still on external insulin but often reporting at non-diabetic levels. I can say for myself intermittent fasting has kept me in some of the best shape of my life.
- rsync 10y ago"Diabetic and former Diabetes genetic researcher here." Thank you for commenting here. As you are a diabetic who was also a diabetes researcher, I think it would be helpful to have you describe your exercise regimens (both cardio and resistance training) as well as your own experience with fasting and/or intermittent fasting ? Thanks.
- micro_cam 10y agoTo be clear I work in genetics and data analysis. I have no special expertise in treatment. I haven't experimented with fasting yet, I'm thinking of doing some sort of test of my insulin needs before and after if i do. I climb, ski tour, mountain bike and trail run but am not particularly structured in my routine. Happy to talk about exercising with diabetes off line though.