Intermittent Fasting for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

November 7, 2025 updated by: Felicia Steger, University of Kansas Medical Center
To test whether a lifestyle program featuring one of two forms of intermittent fasting (IER or TRE) can feasibly and effectively improve glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, and potentially induce diabetes remission.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Intermittent energy restriction (IER) and time-restricted eating (TRE) are two distinct forms of intermittent fasting which have yet to be compared for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Investigators will test whether a comprehensive, intensive lifestyle program featuring each of these intermittent fasting approaches is feasible and effective for improving glycemic control in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past 10 years. Both interventions will be delivered over one year in three phases: (1) a 12-week weight loss program featuring weekly group meetings, (2) a 12-week weight maintenance program featuring biweekly group meetings, and (3) a 6-month low-contact follow up period featuring monthly check-ins.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
57

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Kansas
      • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
        • University of Kansas Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the past 10 years.
  2. Age 21-65 years
  3. BMI of 25 - 45 kg/m2
  4. HbA1c of 6.7-9.5%, or those with A1c of <6.7% on glucose-lowering medications
  5. Ability to participate in a graduated physical activity program
  6. Clearance from study physician.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Inability to attend health education meetings.
  2. Weight change of >=5% in the previous 3 months.
  3. Addition of new antihyperglycemic or weight-reducing medication in the previous 2 months.
  4. Serious medical risk such as ongoing treatment for cancer, uncontrolled hypertension, recent cardiac event, or other medical condition presenting acute risk of participation in a lifestyle change program.
  5. Untreated depression or anxiety, or increase in associated medications in the previous 3 months.
  6. Current participation in another lifestyle change intervention, such as a tobacco cessation program or physical activity program.
  7. Pregnancy or lactation within the previous six months
  8. Weight of >450 lbs
  9. Currently taking medications that may result in hypoglycemia during fasting and unwilling to stop prior to the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intermittent energy restriction (IER)
Intermittent fasting using a very-low energy diet (VLED; 550-800 kcal/d) 2-3 days per week
Behavioral: Intermittent energy restriction (IER)
During Phase 1 (Weight Loss), participants will follow a very-low energy diet (VLED; 550-800 kcal/d) 2-3 days per week. On other days, participants do not have a specific kcal goal (non-fasting days). After Phase 1, IER participants will be instructed to follow a VLED 1-2 days per week as needed for weight maintenance.
Experimental: Time-restricted eating (TRE)
Intermittent fasting using an 8-hour eating period.
Behavioral: Time Restricted Eating (TRE)
Participants will eat within an 8-hour period most days (at least 5 days per week). All foods and beverages containing calories will be restricted to this 8-hour period but calorie-free beverages (coffee, tea, diet soda, etc.) are allowed at any time. TRE participants will follow healthy eating guidelines for weight loss during Phase 1 but not follow a specific kcal prescription or restrict intake thereafter.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Retention
Time Frame: 52 weeks
Feasibility of IER and TRE over one year assessed by retention (# completed / # enrolled) and attendance (# classes attended / # classes offered).
52 weeks
Adherence to diet protocols
Time Frame: Weekly from baseline to 52 weeks
Acceptability of IER and TRE over one year as assessed by compliance to program recommendations (# weeks adhered / # study weeks).
Weekly from baseline to 52 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HbA1c
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Estimate the effects for both IER and TRE on long-term glycemic control assessed via HbA1c
Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Estimate the effects for both IER and TRE on fasting and 3 hr glucose result.
Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Isulin resistance
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Estimate the effects for both IER and TRE on insulin resistance estimated by the oral minimal model during a mixed meal tolerance test
Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Insulin sensitivity
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Estimate the effects for both IER and TRE on insulin sensitivity estimated by the oral minimal model during a mixed meal tolerance test
Change from baseline to 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Kansas Medical Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
American Diabetes Association

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 24, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 20, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 20, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 23, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 5, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 10, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 7, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00149127

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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