Khaberni - As Ramadan reaches approximately its midpoint, many notice that their bodies have become more capable of adapting to fasting compared to the first days.
But the scientific question posed by many: Does blood sugar level gradually decrease with continued fasting throughout this period?
Physiological studies indicate that the body does not allow blood sugar to continuously decrease; instead, it has a precise system that maintains its balance even with refraining from food for long hours daily.
How does the body adapt after two weeks of fasting?
During the early days of fasting, the body primarily relies on the glycogen stored in the liver to maintain blood glucose levels. But as the days pass and fasting is repeated daily, the body becomes more efficient in using different energy sources.
A study titled "Physiology of Fasting," published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reveals how the body initially relies on breaking down the stored glycogen in the liver to maintain blood sugar levels before gradually shifting to using fats as the main energy source, and in another sense, the body after a period of repeated fasting begins to reset its metabolic system to become more efficient in managing energy.
What happens to blood sugar levels with continued fasting?
Several studies have revealed that the blood sugar levels in healthy individuals do not dangerously decrease gradually with continued fasting, but rather remain within a normal range thanks to the body's hormonal regulation mechanisms.
In a study titled "Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Glucose Balance and Metabolic Indicators," published in the Nutrition Journal, researchers found that glucose levels in most participants remained relatively stable throughout the month of Ramadan, and some participants even showed an improvement in insulin sensitivity.
This indicates that the body can adapt to repeated fasting without a continuous decrease in sugar.
Shifting to fat as an energy source
As fasting continues day after day, the body increasingly relies on stored fats as a source of energy, reducing the need to use glucose.
A study titled "Fuel Metabolism During Prolonged Starvation or Fasting," published in the Annual Review of Nutrition, explained how the body gradually shifts to using fats and producing what are known as "ketone bodies," an alternative energy source that the brain can use when glucose availability decreases.
This metabolic shift is one reason why many fasting individuals feel a greater sense of energy stability after several days of fasting.
When can sugar actually decrease?
Despite the body's ability to regulate sugar levels, certain conditions may be more prone to glucose decrease during fasting, such as diabetic patients taking glucose-lowering drugs, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and those who engage in intense physical activity without appropriate nutritional compensation.
A study titled "Blood Sugar Decrease in Diabetic Patients During Ramadan Fasting," published in the Diabetes Care journal, discussed that the risk of sugar decrease may increase for diabetic patients during fasting if medications are not adjusted or diet regulated properly.
Why do some fasting individuals feel better energy now?
Based off these studies, Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Alim, a gastroenterologist at the Egyptian Ministry of Health, told "Al Ain News," "With the arrival at the midpoint of Ramadan, the body has indeed gone through the metabolic adaptation stage, meaning that the body has become more efficient in using fats for energy, the biological clock has started to adapt to the new sleep and food times, and hormone levels regulating energy have become more stable."
He adds, "This is why many fasting individuals notice that the feeling of fatigue at the beginning of the month declines as the days progress."
