Type 2 diabetes sufferers could lower blood sugar levels by 'changing eating habits'
26.07.2022 - 12:17
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Eating within a 10-hour time frame may help those with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels, new research claims.
The study, carried out by the Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, shows that following a time restricted eating (TRE) schedule can prevent the negative effects of eating throughout the day for those with the condition.
Researchers say limiting the duration of food intake helps to restore the cycle of daytime eating and prolonged fasting during the evening and night.
They said: “A daytime 10-hour TRE regimen for three weeks decreases glucose levels and prolongs the time spent in the normal blood sugar range in adults with type 2 diabetes as compared with spreading daily food intake over at least 14 hours. These data highlight the potential benefit of TRE in type 2 diabetes.”
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition which can impact everyday life. According to charity Diabetes UK, it occurs when the body can not produce enough insulin, which means the sugar, or glucose, in your blood can not break down.
Without medication, blood sugar levels rise continuously. It is often seen in those who are inactive, obese, or have a family history of type 2 diabetes, according to the NHS.
The study involved 14 people with type 2 diabetes aged between 50 and 75 split into two groups – one limiting their eating hours and the other eating over at least 14 hours over two three-week periods. The limited eating group were instructed to eat their normal diet within a 10-hour window during the daytime - and to complete their food intake no later than 6pm.
The findings, published in Diabetologia, showed that limiting eating hours led to a decrease in 24-hour glucose levels, primarily as a result of lower