Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body struggles to use insulin effectively, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. This issue can result in various health complications.
About 1.3 million Australians have type 2 diabetes, and experts believe that approximately 60% of these cases could be prevented through lifestyle modifications.
The Study: Intermittent Fasting vs. Low-Calorie Diet
Researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) investigated two diet types: an intermittent fasting diet and a low-calorie diet.
Their goal was to understand which diet was more beneficial for people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
An intermittent fasting diet involves having a specific time window for eating. In this study, participants consumed food only between 8 am and 12 pm, three days a week. On the remaining four days, they ate as usual.
A low-calorie diet, on the other hand, simply requires one to consume fewer calories daily.
Interestingly, participants following the intermittent fasting diet displayed improved sugar tolerance after six months compared to those on the low-calorie diet.
They also exhibited better insulin sensitivity and reduced fat in their blood—factors that decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Over 200 individuals participated in the study, trying both diets over 18 months. Although both groups lost a comparable amount of weight, the intermittent fasting diet demonstrated additional advantages.
According to Ph.D. student Xiao Tong Teong, how the body handles sugar post-eating is a stronger indicator of diabetes risk than a fasting test. This study is the largest to date that has investigated this relationship.
What’s Next?
The study suggests that not only what we eat but when we eat can be crucial in our health. Periodic fasting might offer health benefits beyond weight loss.
Future studies are required to understand whether eating within a more extensive time window would be beneficial and more manageable for individuals to follow.
This research provides hope and suggests a straightforward way to reduce our risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it’s crucial to stay informed about future research on this topic.
For more diabetes-related research, consider reading studies on how high vitamin D levels may be linked to lower dementia risk in diabetes, and how green tea might reduce the risk of death in diabetes patients.
Further, explore recent studies highlighting how blueberries could strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and how vitamin D could enhance blood pressure management in people with diabetes.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about why blood sugar is high in the morning, and how to cook sweet potatoes without increasing blood sugar.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about 9 unhealthy habits that damage your brain, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect the aging brain, and treat Alzheimer’s.
This study was published in Nature Medicine.
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