A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago suggests that time-restricted eating, also known as intermittent fasting, can be a beneficial approach for people with type 2 diabetes.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, reveals that this eating pattern can help individuals shed excess weight and manage their blood sugar levels effectively.
The Growing Challenge of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a widespread health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. In the United States, it currently impacts one in ten residents, and if current trends persist, this number could rise to one in three by 2050.
Managing weight and blood sugar levels is essential for individuals with diabetes, and finding effective methods to achieve these goals is critical.
The Study’s Approach The study involved 75 participants who were divided into three groups:
- Time-Restricted Eating Group: Participants in this group were instructed to eat only during an eight-hour window between noon and 8 p.m. each day.
- Calorie Reduction Group: Participants in this group were advised to reduce their calorie intake by 25%.
- Control Group: This group served as a reference point.
The researchers closely monitored the participants’ weight, waist circumference, blood sugar levels, and other health indicators over a six-month period.
The study’s findings are promising and offer potential benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes:
Weight Loss: Surprisingly, participants in the time-restricted eating group lost more weight over the six-month period than those in the calorie reduction group. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this eating pattern in supporting weight loss.
Blood Sugar Control: Both the time-restricted eating group and the calorie reduction group achieved similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels, as measured by hemoglobin A1C tests. This indicates that time-restricted eating can effectively help manage blood sugar levels.
One interesting aspect noted by the senior author, Krista Varady, is that participants in the time-restricted eating group found it easier to adhere to this eating pattern compared to those in the calorie reduction group.
This may be because many individuals with diabetes are initially advised to cut back on calories, which can be challenging.
While the time-restricted eating group wasn’t specifically instructed to reduce calorie intake, they naturally did so by adhering to their eating window.
Varady, a professor of kinesiology and nutrition, believes that for many people seeking to lose weight, focusing on time restrictions may be simpler than counting calories. This approach offers a more manageable way to control food intake.
Safety and Future Research It’s important to note that no serious adverse events were reported during the six-month study, and occurrences of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) did not differ significantly between the diet groups and the control group.
While this study provides valuable insights, it is relatively small in scale. Researchers emphasize the need for larger follow-up studies to build upon these findings.
It serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating that time-restricted eating can be safe for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
However, it’s essential for individuals with diabetes to consult their healthcare providers before embarking on this type of diet or any significant dietary changes.
Notably, more than half of the study’s participants were Black, and an additional 40% were Hispanic. This is significant because diabetes is prevalent among these groups.
Therefore, the success of time-restricted eating demonstrated in this study holds particular relevance and promise for addressing the unique challenges faced by these communities.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and to people with diabetes, some fruits are better than others.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies that low calorie diets may help reverse diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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