Increasing sun exposure helps Type 2 diabetics control blood sugar. This is because natural light regulates hormones like melatonin and cortisol, which affect blood sugar levels. Daylight exposure also improves insulin sensitivity and decreases insulin resistance, which help manage diabetes. Natural light improves sleep, which improves health and may reduce the incidence of diabetes problems.
New research suggests that increasing daylight exposure to natural light may assist millions of Type 2 diabetics.
The study found that natural daylight boosts metabolism and prevents diabetes. It can also reduce obesity and other metabolic disorders.
“The misalignment of our internal circadian clock with the demands of a 24/7 society is associated with an increased incidence of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes,” stated Maastricht University’s Ivo Habets.
Although most people are indoors during the day and under continual artificial illumination, natural daylight is the strongest circadian clock zeitgeber.
“Our research reveals that light type affects metabolism. If you work in an office with little natural light, it will affect your metabolism and risk or control of Type 2 diabetes, so try to get as much sunshine as possible and walk outdoors when you can, Habets said.
Presenting the findings at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Hamburg, Germany from October 2-6.
The team performed metabolic testing on 13 T2D patients in natural and artificial light and compared the findings.
Natural sunshine from windows and artificial LED lights were randomly shown to them during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Two 4.5-day interventions separated by at least four weeks.
Averaging 2,453 lux around 12:30 p.m., the natural daylight intervention was most intense. An artificial 300-lux light was steady.
Evenings were dull (less than 5 lux) and sleeping hours were dark (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
The natural daylight intervention maintained normal blood glucose levels for 59% of the 4.5 days, compared to 51% for the artificial light intervention.
The respiratory exchange ratio (which indicates whether fat or carbohydrates are being used for energy) was lower during the daylight intervention than the artificial light intervention, indicating that participants found it easier to switch from carbohydrates to fat.
Per1 and Cry1, circadian rhythm genes, were more active in natural light than artificial light.
Both light settings had identical 24-hour resting energy consumption and core body temperature trends.
While serum insulin levels were equal in both light situations, serum glucose and plasma free acids differed.
“More research is needed to determine how much artificial light affects metabolism and how much time should be spent in natural light or outdoors to compensate,” Habets added.
Conclusion:-
A new study shows that Type 2 diabetics may control their blood sugar with daylight. Diabetes management requires hormone regulation, insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance reduction, which natural light provides. Sleeping better improves health and may reduce the incidence of diabetes problems. The study found that natural daylight boosts metabolism, treats and prevents diabetes, and reduces metabolic disorders including obesity. Our inherent circadian clock is misaligned with a 24/7 civilization, which increases metabolic illnesses like type 2 diabetes. The research was presented at the EASD annual meeting in Hamburg, Germany. The study indicated that natural daylight intervention maintained normal blood glucose levels longer than artificial light. Daylight intervention reduced respiratory exchange ratio and increased circadian rhythm gene activity. More research is needed to discover how artificial light impacts metabolism and how long to compensate.
