A new study published in Cell Metabolism shows that people with type 2 diabetes can keep their blood sugar more stable when they spend time in rooms with natural daylight.
The light does not lower blood sugar levels overall, but it can reduce the fluctuations that many people experience throughout the day.
The researchers behind the study emphasize, however, that the results do not replace medical treatment.
Instead, they point to daylight as a possible support for existing treatment.
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The body’s internal clock
The human body is governed by a circadian rhythm that affects, among other things, digestion and blood sugar levels. This rhythm responds to light.
According to the researchers, too little natural light can disrupt the body’s timing and make it more difficult to regulate blood sugar.
Previous research published in Diabetologia has shown that artificial light at night can have a negative effect, while daylight can improve the body’s ability to respond to insulin.
The new study focuses on indoor daylight, which has not previously been examined to the same extent.
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An office experiment
The study included 13 people with type 2 diabetes.
The participants spent time in an office during two periods. In one period, they had access to daylight from windows, in the other, only artificial light.
Diet, exercise, and medication were kept the same.
The results showed that participants spent more time within normal blood sugar ranges under natural daylight.
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Analyses of muscle tissue also showed that the body’s internal clock functioned better under natural light.
The study is small, but according to Medical Xpress it suggests that daylight may become important for how workplaces are designed and how people with type 2 diabetes are advised.
Sources: Medical Xpress, Cell Metabolism, and Diabetologia.
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