Diet is an important way for those living with type 2 diabetes to manage blood glucose (sugar), along with exercising and taking medications regularly.
A new study looked at the effect of time-restricted eating, focusing on when you eat, rather than the type or amount of food, on blood glucose levels.
The researchers found that mealtime restriction had similar results to individual advice from a registered dietitian about food quality and portions, but time restriction had additional benefits, because it was simple, achievable, easy to adhere to, and motivated people to make other positive changes.
What is time-restricted eating?
Time-restricted eating, also known as the 16:8 diet, has been popular for weight loss since around 2015. Studies have since shown that it is also an effective way for people with type 2 diabetes to manage blood glucose.
Time-restricted eating involves limiting the time you eat each day, rather than focusing on what you eat. You can restrict food intake during daylight hours, for example eating meals between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., then fasting for the remaining hours. This can sometimes naturally lead to eating less as well.
Giving your body a break from constantly digesting food in this way helps align food intake with natural circadian rhythms. This can help regulate metabolism and improve overall health.
For people with type 2 diabetes, there may be specific benefits. They often have their highest blood glucose reading in the morning, so delaying breakfast until mid-morning means there is time for physical activity to help reduce glucose levels and prepare the body for the first meal.
In a previous study, researchers found that type 2 diabetes patients who followed a restricted diet saw an improvement in blood glucose.
Other studies have confirmed these results, which also showed significant improvements in HbA1c (a blood index representing blood glucose concentrations over an average of three months).
In the new study, researchers compared time-restricted eating directly with advice from a registered dietitian, to test whether results were similar over six months.
The study included 52 participants (22 women and 30 men, aged 35 to 65 years) with type 2 diabetes who were managing their disease with two oral medications.
The results found that participants who followed the time-restricted regimen saw significant improvements in blood glucose levels, similar to those who received traditional dietary advice. Many participants also reported weight loss ranging from 5 to 10 kg.
Participants in the time-restricted group showed that they adapted well to this new pattern, as family support helped them stick to early meals. This system is the easiest to implement, as it focuses on the timing of eating without the need for complex dietary changes, which makes it applicable to various social and cultural backgrounds.
Source: Medical Express
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