Periodic fasting 'may protect against diabetes in at-risk groups'

Insulin resistance is when insulin production becomes so high that the pancreas can no longer produce the body's required levels of insulin, which causes blood sugar to rise. The researchers believe fasting may prevent this.

"The fat cells themselves are a major contributor to insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.” Because fasting may help to eliminate and break down fat cells, insulin resistance may be frustrated by fasting."

After 10-12 hours of fasting, the body begins to scavenge other sources of energy throughout the body in order to sustain itself. The benefit to prediabetics, is that because the body feasts on the LDL (or "bad") cholesterol in fat cells, it negates the effect of insulin resistance.