Hi Rabbitfood – I am 71 and have had diabetes 2 since 2009; am in the “obese” category on BMI. Blood sugar levels have been between 130 & 180 over last few weeks, with fairly high blood pressure as well;

Had my first fast day today – I divided my calories between 3 smaller meals as I did not think it a good idea to do an all day fast – I need to eat regularly as I have to take some medication before and some after food; for instance I just had a yoghourt lunch time which was enough.

Was surprised how day passed without feeling really hungry; All was OK until after the evening meal when I began to feel light-headed, shaky and very hot – all signs I have learnt that indicate I have low blood sugar levels. Took reading and it was down to 80 – not catastrophic but extremely low for me – too steep a drop in too short a time. Have had this happen before.

So had to break my 500 calories and put some sugar back. Had scoop of caramel ice cream and small teaspoon of runny honey. Am not beating myself up about it – these things happen and it will not stop me doing more fast days.

However, having read various comments about when and how to work the fast days, I believe it is entirely up to the person concerned to work out what to eat and when, for some an all day fast is OK and is possibly more beneficial, others like me it is not, and I think if one has diabetes 2 it is not an entirely good idea to go 24hrs without food and then a big meal in one go.

I do not get up early so I do not eat until about 11am; then about 2.30pm: with one biscuit with a cup of green tea about 5pm and then evening meal about 8pm. That has worked today quite well for me; butyou will need to work out your own routine.

I wish you the best and look forward to hearing how you get on

I did the dukan diet a few years ago and found that I couldn’t exercise too much on it as my blood sugar would regularly drop below 4 (I’m not a diabetic) which would make me feel very dizzy and weak. On my fast days on this diet I can do an 1 1/2 circuit training in the morning and have nothing to eat from the night before until the evening of my fast day with no drop in sugar levels. For me eating triggers the production of insulin so I’m better off having nothing.

I eat a little extra if I feel woozy, or fuzzy. A handful of nuts and a small apple are a favorite snack to bring myself around. It’s also important for me to drink enough fluid so I always have some tea brewing, or a glass of electrolyte water at hand.

I’ve been a well controlled T2 diabetic for about 8 years. This is my 8th week of IF. My body has adjusted and, I’m sure, will keep responding to IF. Fasting easier now with fewer bouts of wooziness and I need that little extra snack less often. I’ve been losing weight slow but steady – about one pound a week.

I agree, as others have said, that your own body awareness is important when you fast. This method is flexible enough to try out different eating schedules to see what works for you. Most likely a schedule that works for today’s fast will evolve to something a bit different tomorrow.

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia. This, after I passed out one morning from low blood sugar and had several weak and foggy events. I had started a routine of eating a small bowl of ordinary cereal to tide me over until I ate a more substantial breakfast two hours later. The fast-carb cereal triggered the overproduction of insulin. Research led me to eating steel cut oats instead which digest more slowly. This did stabilize my blood sugar during this routine. I was still frightened of being out somewhere and having a reactive episode, so always carried snacks and when I would feel the slightest tinge of hunger would eat. Of course, I was gaining weight. When I heard about the 5:2 diet, I was really intrigued, but thought I couldn’t do it. But wanted to try. The first day, I checked my fasting blood sugar on rising and it was 98. I ate a 250 calorie steel cut oatmeal meal, with blueberries, to start the day, and began testing my blood sugar hourly. The first two hours were critical, it spiked a bit then down to the 90’s. During the entire day, no matter how hungry I was, blood sugar was OK, in fact one reading was 107. This totally amazed me and may be atypical. I’m not giving the diet credit… I may have been misinterpreting my reactive hypo, but now, I am not afraid of hunger and freed from carrying snacks. I’ve been on the diet for four weeks and have lost 12 pounds. Plus, I feel great! My reactive hypo may not be as severe as others, so don’t try this diet casually. Side Note: I have been taking a small amount of prednasone to relieve the symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica for a year. A couple of weeks after starting 5:2, I stopped the pred and no symptoms. Sometims this malady spontaneously goes away on its own so can’t confirm the diet was the reason.