Common knowledge says that managing diabetes is mostly about diets.
But when you eat matters more than what reveals new research in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.
According to this, you can eat almost anything you want as long as your timing is right.
Researchers set out to test a simple eating method called time-restricted eating (TRE) against traditional dietary advice.
Their goal? To see which best improves blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes.
The study followed 51 adults aged 35 to 65 with Type 2 diabetes, all of whom were carrying excess weight.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one followed a time-restricted eating plan, while the other received personalized dietary guidance.
The TRE group was asked to eat only between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., giving them a daily fasting window of 17 hours.
They could eat what they wanted within those hours without focusing on restricting specific foods.
The diet group, however, was given traditional dietary advice: limit alcohol, eat more vegetables, and manage portion sizes.
Here’s what the study found:
- Better Blood Sugar Control: After six months, both groups lowered their HbA1c levels, a key marker of blood sugar control. The TRE group showed a 0.4% (5 mmol/mol) drop in HbA1c, while the diet group had a 0.3% (4 mmol/mol) reduction.
- Slight Weight Loss in Both Groups: Though weight loss wasn’t the focus, the TRE group lost an average of 1.7 kg, while the diet group lost 1.2 kg.
- Higher Adherence with TRE: Participants in the TRE group reported that the approach was easier to stick to than traditional dietary restrictions.
- Unexpected Lifestyle Improvements: Interestingly, those in the TRE group also increased their physical activity, enhancing their overall health even more.
So, if traditional diets feel overwhelming, time-restricted eating offers a simpler path to manage your blood sugar levels without counting calories.
But while fasting helps, it doesn’t heal type 2 diabetes.
I help people actually to heal their type 2 diabetes. Been my mission for many years.