‘Intermittent fasting is safe, effective for diabetes control’

New York: 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. Researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago in the US found that people who ate only during the eight-hour period between noon and 8 p.m. Each day actually resulted in more weight loss over six months than participants who were instructed to reduce their calorie intake by 25 percent. Both groups saw similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels, as measured by the hemoglobin A1C test, which reflects blood sugar levels over the past three months. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, enrolled 75 participants in three groups: those who followed a time-restricted eating regimen, those who reduced calories, and a control group. The participants’ weight, waist circumference, blood sugar levels and other health indicators were measured over the course of six months.

Christa Vardi, a professor of kinesiology and nutrition at the university, said participants in the time-restricted eating group had an easier time following the regimen than those in the calorie-restricted group.

The researchers believe this is partly because diabetes patients are typically told by their doctors to cut calories as a first line of defense, so many of these participants were already This form of diet has been tried – and struggled. And while participants in the time-restricted eating group were not instructed to reduce their calorie intake, they did so by eating within a certain period of time.

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“Our study shows that time-restricted eating may be an effective alternative to a conventional diet for people who cannot follow a conventional diet or get tired of it,” Vardi said. “For many people trying to lose weight, counting time is easier than counting calories.”

No serious adverse events were reported during the six-month study. The incidence of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) did not differ between the diet groups and the control groups. The study was small and should be done by larger people, Varady said. While this serves as a proof of concept that time-restricted eating is safe for people with type 2 diabetes, Varady said people with diabetes should consult their doctors before starting this type of diet.