Meal “time” trick HALTS type 2 diabetes?

When it comes to type 2 diabetes, it seems like every meal comes with a laundry list of ‘what ifs.’

What if this meal isn’t blood-sugar friendly?

What if I eat too late – or too early?

What if it makes my blood sugar spike?

And while eating and type 2 diabetes always go hand-and-hand, it doesn’t mean that food needs to be a BURDEN.

That’s because researchers have unlocked a meal “time” trick that, when done correctly, can potentially HALT the risk of type 2 diabetes.

And get this? You can start doing it TONIGHT!

A study out of Massachusetts General Hospital says that eating dinner too close to bedtime can significantly ELEVATE the risk of type 2 diabetes.

It turns out that when your melatonin levels (your sleep hormone) are high – which happens right before bedtime – it can disrupt blood sugar control.

This is especially problematic in individuals with a genetic variant in the melatonin receptor MTNR1B – which has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

In other words, eating too late in the evening can cause issues with your blood sugar – especially if you’re already genetically predisposed to diabetes.

The best thing you can do is to be as consistent as possible with your dinner time.

If you struggle with sticking to consistent eating times (especially at night) … consider intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting is where you eat all your meals within a 6-to-8-hour window each day. For example, you could eat your first meal of the day at 11 a.m. and your final meal (aka dinner) at 6 p.m.

This will ensure you’re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals (and calories) WITHOUT sacrificing taste… or worrying that you’re eating too close to bedtime.

Studies have found that intermittent fasting can improve insulin sensitivity and make your body use stored calories and sugar for energy – which also helps reduce your type 2 diabetes risk.

To stopping diabetes,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

ScienceDaily. “How the timing of dinner and genetics affect individuals’ blood sugar control.” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220125124032.htm