If you have type 2 diabetes, you might find it difficult to lose weight. Traditional advice often focuses on counting calories, but let’s be honest—keeping track of every calorie you consume can be exhausting.
What if there were a simpler way to shed pounds? A recent study brings some good news: you might just need to watch the clock rather than count calories.
The Study: What Time You Eat Matters
A team of researchers, led by Krista Varady, a nutrition professor, and Vicky Pavlou, a doctoral student, studied how “time-restricted eating” could affect people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
They looked at 75 people from diverse backgrounds, aged between 18 and 80. These participants were divided into three groups:
The first group followed a time-restricted eating plan, where they could eat only between noon and 8 p.m.
The second group kept track of their calories, aiming to eat 25% less than what they normally would to maintain their weight. They used a mobile app to help them.
The third group didn’t change their eating habits at all.
After six months, something interesting happened. The time-restricted group lost 3.55% of their body weight, while the calorie-counting group didn’t lose any weight at all.
Plus, both groups that changed their eating habits had better blood sugar levels compared to the group that kept their usual diet.
What This Means for You
The researchers think that time-restricted eating could be a promising alternative for those struggling to manage their diabetes and lose weight. But before you jump into this new routine, there are a few things to consider:
- Your diabetes medication might require you to eat at specific times or could cause your blood sugar to drop.
- Always consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet.
This research is still fresh, and more studies are needed to confirm these findings. But it does offer another option for people with type 2 diabetes who find traditional calorie-counting diets difficult to maintain.
The Bottom Line
Losing weight when you have type 2 diabetes can be a challenge, but this study suggests that it might be more about “when” rather than “what” you eat.
If you’re interested in trying out time-restricted eating, make sure to check with your doctor or a dietitian first.
And remember, whatever diet you follow, maintaining a balanced diet and staying active remain the cornerstones of managing your diabetes and overall health.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about new way to achieve type 2 diabetes remission, and one avocado a day keeps diabetes at bay.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about 5 dangerous signs you have diabetes-related eye disease, and results showing why pomegranate is super fruit for people with diabetes.
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