Dynamite News Research reveals Intermittent fasting is safe, beneficial for Type 2 diabetics
Researchers at the University of Illinois, Chicago have shown that intermittent fasting, sometimes referred to as time-restricted eating, might help persons with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and lose weight.
Washington DC [US]: Researchers at the University of Illinois, Chicago have shown that intermittent fasting, sometimes referred to as time-restricted eating, might help persons with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and lose weight.
Their findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
Participants who ate only during an eight-hour window between noon and 8 p.m. each day actually lost more weight over six months than participants who were instructed to reduce their calorie intake by 25%. Both groups had similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels, as measured by a test of hemoglobin A1C, which shows blood sugar levels over the past three months.
The study was conducted at UIC and enrolled 75 participants into 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 the course of six months.
Also Read |
Drinking dark tea might regulate blood sugar, minimise risk of diabetes: Research
Senior author Krista Varady said that participants in the time-restricted eating group had an easier time following the regime than those in the calorie-reducing group.
The researchers believe this is partly because patients with diabetes are generally told to cut back on calories by their doctors as a first line of defense, so many of these participants likely had already tried -- and struggled with -- that form of dieting. And while the participants in the time-restricted eating group were not instructed to reduce their calorie intake, they ended up doing so by eating within a fixed window.
"Our study shows that time-restricted eating might be an effective alternative to traditional dieting for people who can't do the traditional diet or are burned out on it," said Varady, a professor of kinesiology and nutrition. "For many people trying to lose weight, counting time is easier than counting calories."
There were no serious adverse events reported during the six-month study. Occurrences of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) did not differ between the diet groups and control groups.
Today, 1 in 10 U.S. residents has diabetes, and that number is expected to rise to 1 in 3 by 2050 if current trends continue, the researchers explain. Finding more options for controlling weight and blood sugar levels for these patients, therefore, is crucial.
Also Read |
Study: Tinds Obesity Drug Helps Teens Lose Weight
Just over half the participants in the study were Black and another 40% were Hispanic. This is notable as diabetes is particularly prevalent among those groups, so having studies that document the success of time-restricted eating for them is particularly useful, the researchers said.
The study was small and should be followed up by larger ones, said Varady, who is also a member of the University of Illinois Cancer Center.
While it acts as a proof of concept to show that time-restricted eating is safe for those with Type 2 diabetes, Varady said people with diabetes should consult their doctors before starting this sort of diet. (ANI)