New research demonstrates fasting may contribute fundamentally to combating diabetes and other chronic health conditions. At the 2014 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, researchers  from the Intermountain Heart Institute  presented a study that found periodic fasting contributed to jump-starting a biological process in the body that eliminates bad cholesterol in the body and reduces weight, thus combating diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.

Deseret News reports that fasting for at least 12 hours to, optimally, 20 hours pushes cells into a sort of “self-preservation mode.” In this mode, cells optimize their function. The fasting also triggers the body to seek other sources of energy besides food. This means that instead of using blood sugar and glucose, the body works to digest its stores of fat.

While fasting may seem daunting and disruptive, the participants were able to complete it with little difficulty. The participants were all individuals at risk for diabetes. They fasted for 24 hours a week for 6 weeks. Other than headaches and fatigue, the participants reported no adverse effects. Additionally, the process involved an increased production of human growth hormone that can protect lean muscle mass, decrease insulin production, and avert diabetes.

Medline Plus describes diabetes as a disease in which a person’s blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high.  Over time, it can damage the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke, and even the need to remove a limb.