Hi, TidyChick. My step mum has type 2 diabetes (treated on diet alone, not by medication), and keeps snacking because reckons she mustn’t go more than two of three hours without food in the daytime. I totally disagree, but I say nothing. She’s very well, approaching 89 so I reckon she’s entitled to eat pretty much as she pleases without me fussing or contradicting. I believe that with type 2 diabetes you can fast, unless you are taking medication that might push your blood glucose too low, when combined with fasting. The advice would be obviously to check with one’s doctor, though there could be a degree of scepticism if they seemed to trot out some mantra that doesn’t fit the science.

My father in law has diabetes that is associated with and may have been caused by damage to his pancreas by cancer. His diabetes was initially treated with tablets, but now with insulin. He also sadly has dementia. Some days he eats well, others he hardly eats at all. Obviously, if he has his insulin injection and doesn’t eat, he is liable to become ‘hypo.’ He has finished up losing consciousness when he’s not eaten. Obviously common sense and professional guidance are needed for fasting with diabetes, but hopefully, where feasible, IF could help many people with type 2 diabetes.