Time-Restricted Eating Helps Type 2 Diabetics Lose Weight and Control Blood Sugar Levels, Study Finds

MADRID, 30 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Time-restricted eating, also known as intermittent fasting, can help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and control their blood sugar levels, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open by researchers. from the University of Illinois Chicago (United States).

Participants who only ate during an eight-hour window between noon and 8 p.m. each day lost more weight over six months than participants who were instructed to reduce their calorie intake by 25%. Both groups recorded similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels, measured by a hemoglobin A1C test, which shows blood sugar levels over the past three months.

The study was carried out at the UIC and included 75 participants in three groups: those who followed the time-restricted eating rules, those who reduced calories and a control group. Participants’ weight, waist circumference, blood sugar levels and other health indicators were measured over six months.

Lead author Krista Varady says that participants in the time-restricted group found it easier to follow the regimen than those in the calorie-reduced group. The researchers believe this is partly because doctors often advise patients with diabetes to cut calories as a first line of defense, so many of these participants had probably already tried that form of diet and had problems with it. she. And although participants in the time-restricted group were not told to reduce their calorie intake, they ended up doing so by eating within a fixed range.

“Our study shows that time restriction can be an effective alternative to a traditional diet for those who cannot follow it or are exhausted,” says Varady, professor of Kinesiology and Nutrition. For many people trying to lose weight, counting time is easier than counting calories.

During the six months of the study, no serious adverse effects were recorded. Cases of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) did not differ between the diet groups and the control groups.

Just over half of the study participants were black and another 40% were Hispanic. This is important, as diabetes is particularly prevalent among these groups, so having studies documenting the success of restricted feeding in these groups is particularly useful, the researchers note.

The study was small and should be followed by larger ones, says Varady, who is also a member of the University of Illinois Cancer Center. Although this is a proof of concept showing that time restriction is safe for type 2 diabetics, Varady notes that people with diabetes should consult their doctors before starting this type of diet.