Fasting for Religious Purposes?

I am a 42 year old LADA diagnosed earlier this year, and I currently treat my condition with a single daily injection of Lantus (18 units), diet, and exercise. My 14 day average on my glucose meter is 109, and my last A1c was at 6.4 (4 mos ago - I get updated results when I visit my endo tomorrow).

Anyway, with that out of the way, I am on our church's building expansion team, and we are facing some very important decisions on how and when to proceed with a major sanctuary expansion. Our team members were asked by our pastor to fast for three meals and pray for guidance on the topic during the next couple of weeks. I would like to take part in this team effort, but I don't think it is a very good idea given my diabetes.

I plan on talking to my endocrinologist about the topic at tomorrow's appointment, but I thought I would throw this out there for this group to see if any of you had experience with attempting to fast, and how you went about it. Left to my own intuition, I would either reduce of skip the Lantus injection the night before, but since I experience a pretty significant dawn phenomonon and high morning glucose level without the Lantus, I am a bit reluctant to do this.

Any insight or experience that could be shared would be appreciated

Tags: fasting

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on October 14, 2009 at 12:26pm

I fast for religious reasons on occasion as well. For my fast I do allow myself juice boxes, sugar water, and glucose tablets as those are all medication for me and not food. As a type 1 diabetic I would usually just not give myself my mealtime insulin. Since you do not take mealtime insulin I would first suggest consulting with your doctor and then perhaps a very slight reduction in the Lantus. Again, if your blood sugars slip towards low fasting rules do not forbid the use of medication to save yourself. Talk to your doctor about it and hopefully you'll get some feedback from other type 2's who do this as well! If your doctor recommends against it, I would talk to your pastor about fasting from something else for a day (TV, internet, music, etc.) or limit your diet to very simple foods which could also be considered a fast in our current culture.

Permalink Reply by 90Duck on October 14, 2009 at 2:55pm

Thanks for the suggestion on alternatives to fasting. One of my teammates who is aware of my D suggested the same thing.

Not to pick nits, but as a LADA I'm actually a type 1, but I have the great fortune to still be kicking out a fair amount of insulin on my own.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on October 14, 2009 at 6:42pm

I appologize, I missed the LADA designation in your original post and focused on the fact you were only taking Lantus as insulin and doing the rest with diet and exercise. Congratulations for managing like that and still producing your own insulin. Again, I am sorry and thank you for educating me.

Permalink Reply by 90Duck on October 14, 2009 at 7:43pm

Rebecca -

No apology necessary - I wasn't offended, and I only pointed out the distinction because I thought it was relevant to my question. I feel like a diabetic with training wheels on since I still produce insulin and don't yet have to deal with constant management required by type 1. I'm really not looking forward to the time when my beta cells call it quits entirely. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness in taking the time to respond to my question in the first place.

By the way, the discussion links that Kristin included in her response were directly on topic if you are interested in the experiences of others with fasting.

Thanks again, and God Bless!

Dale

Permalink Reply by Jenn Zapata on October 14, 2009 at 1:13pm

I am also a LADA Diabetic, and I fast all the time. I always drink a protine rich shake instead of eating. Also I have used the Daniel fast instead of eating meat. Eating no rich meats, and sticking to grains and fruits, no caffine, or sugar. i make a vegetable soup and use tomato sauce, and garlic powder and various natural seasonings, no added salt. Hope this helps you! Jenn

Permalink Reply by 90Duck on October 14, 2009 at 2:56pm

You had me pretty excited up to the no caffeine part. Ouch. But that sounds a lot more workable than cold turkey.

Thanks for the response!

Permalink Reply by Jenn Zapata on October 15, 2009 at 12:34pm

I don't really take in Caffeine at all because it effects my blood sugars a lot. I am a pump user, and congratulate you on the fact that you still produce insulin! My beta called it quits in 2006. Also I don't think it would be necessary to go cold turkey on caffeine. Maybe just not taking in so much, so there will be no side effects. One thing that God spoke to me when I started fasting regularly is that there are many ways to fast. I know you said your team was asked to fast three meals, but will they consider you fasting in a alternate way because of your diabetes? I sometimes refrain from other things to fast...like giving up TV, or the computer. God want our first fruits, so sometimes I get up in the morning and give my time to God in prayer instead of watching the morning news. Or sometime I don't get on the computer for a few days and devote that time to prayer. I just think fasting can come in many forms. I hope this helps you some! God Bless! Jenn

Permalink Reply by Kristin on October 14, 2009 at 2:05pm

When I fast, I check regularly and drink juice for lows.

Click here for a discussion on this topic and here.

Permalink Reply by 90Duck on October 14, 2009 at 2:50pm

Thanks all for the quick responses. Kristin, thanks for the links to previous discussion on the topic. I tried to do a search for previous conversations and had come up empty. This will give me some great "food" for thought!

Permalink Reply by Kristin on October 14, 2009 at 3:10pm

This has happened to me before too. Sometimes I find the searches not very efficient. I remembered these discussions :)

Permalink Reply by Linda Gauvin-Miller on October 14, 2009 at 8:29pm

My view...my pastor's view of fasting is to give up something meaningful to you! It need not be food related...the idea is to make a sacrifice.
With myself, giving up coffee for example, or tudiabetes chats for a week would be truly a meaningful gift of self, as the absence would be almost unbearable!!!

Permalink Reply by 90Duck on October 14, 2009 at 8:36pm

I think you are right on with that comment. My wife was reading the responses, and based on my reply to Jenn above, suggested that it sounds like coffee is the thing I should go without. For me, that would truly be a sacrifice, but it would be most unbearable for my co-workers.