A Simple Daily Habit Could Help People With Type 2 Diabetes Control Blood Sugar
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Sitting by a window can help people with type 2 diabetes control their insulin levels, according to new research.
The study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that exposure to natural light, even indoors next to a window, changes the way the body processes glucose and uses energy.
The researchers noted that people in Western societies spend between 80% and 90% of their time under artificial lights, which are much dimmer and less dynamic than sunlight. Natural daylight is a powerful signal for the body’s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm.
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According to research, the body’s internal clock influences many processes, including digestion, hormone release, and metabolism. When out of sync, it can worsen insulin resistance and blood sugar control, which are two of the main problems caused by type 2 diabetes.
Typical lighting in homes and offices is much dimmer and lacks the biological signals that natural light provides. (iStock)
To test the effects of daylight on blood sugar, scientists recruited 13 adults with type 2 diabetes. Each person spent two separate 4.5-day periods in a controlled office environment, according to a press release.
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At one period, they worked in front of large windows that let in natural light. In the other period, participants worked in the same room with the windows covered and were exposed only to typical indoor lighting.
Daylight does not replace medications or traditional management strategies, such as diet and exercise, the researchers noted.
They all ate similar meals, followed the same schedule, and continued their usual diabetes medications in both conditions.
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While average blood sugar levels did not differ dramatically between the two conditions, people spent more time in the healthy glucose range when exposed to natural light: Their blood sugar fluctuated less and stayed within a desirable range for more of the day.
Participants who were exposed to daylight burned more fat and fewer carbohydrates, a metabolic pattern linked to better blood sugar regulation. (iStock)
Exposure to natural light also affected metabolism. During the day, participants burned more fat and fewer carbohydrates for energy.
Muscle biopsies and laboratory tests further showed that genes responsible for the body’s cellular clocks were more synchronized under natural light conditions, the study revealed.
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The researchers concluded that better alignment of these genes can improve nutrient processing and the way cells respond to insulin.
According to researchers, sitting near windows or spending more time outdoors could help control diabetes along with standard treatments. (iStock)
However, according to the team, daylight does not replace medication or traditional management strategies such as diet and exercise.
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The study had some limitations, including the fact that the patient group was small. The researchers cautioned that larger studies are needed to confirm these results and determine how much natural light exposure is optimal.
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“This study also highlights the often unnoticed impact of the built environment on our health and raises further concerns about the prevalence of office environments with poor access to natural light,” the researchers noted.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.