A recent study showed that cycles of the FMD, in addition to improving the function of insulin, could promote the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells and the reversal of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes symptoms in mice in which the pancreas could not generate sufficient insulin, resulting in very high glucose levels. Remarkably, the FMD caused the activation of many pancreatic genes normally activated during embryonic/fetal development, suggesting that it can trigger a natural and highly coordinated regenerative response able to result in new and functioning beta cells, which can produce normal levels of insulin.
A note about insulin and fasting (water-only fasting or similar, not the FMD): While death in people undergoing a prolonged fasting period is rare, when it did occur, it was in several cases associated with insulin use. A few patients have died by combining fasting with an insulin injection, probably because insulin normally works poorly in diabetes patients, and fasting partially reverses this effect. The same insulin injection that normally decreases glucose to healthy levels in a diabetic patient can cause a much more precipitous drop in a diabetic patient who is fasting—resulting in hypoglycemic shock and, in some cases, death. Similar albeit reduced dangers apply to the use of the fasting-mimicking diet. If you are diabetic, Professor Longo strongly discourages a self-administered approach.
If your doctor resists helping you treat or prevent diabetes with dietary interventions, you should insist.
Professor Longo does not question the efficacy of conventional therapies. But he believes medical doctors should prioritize therapies aimed at curing the patient, not just slowing down the progression of disease. Recently he launched a training program to educate biologists, nutritionists, and medical doctors on the Longevity Diet and FMD. He hopes to establish a network of specialized professionals in many countries to oversee patients wishing to use the dietary strategies described in his book, The Longevity Diet.