On April 6th, 2023 an experiment to test how we can reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes was conducted by the University of Adelaide and published on Science direct. This experiment compared two different eating habits, one was an intermittent fasting diet and the second was a lessened-calorie diet. The purpose was to see which diet was more effective in limiting the chances of type 2 diabetes in people who are more likely to develop it.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when a body’s cells doest effectively use and make insulin. Type 2 diabetes also effects people’s blood glucose levels. In biology class, we have learned the importance of insulin. Insulin is an essential hormone in our bodies. It helps our bodies turn food into energy and controls our blood sugar levels. Without insulin, our blood glucose levels can become dangerously high. About 60 percent of type 2 diabetes cases could be helped with changes to diet and lifestyle.
It was discovered that people who followed the intermittent fasting diet, eating between 8am and 12pm for three days had a higher tolerance to glucose after 6 months and had lower chances of developing type 2 diabetes than those on a low calorie diet. It was also revealed that participants who were intermittent fasting had more sensitivity to insulin and had decreased blood lipids compared to those on a low calorie diet. As we learned in biology class high insulin sensitivity allows the cells of the body to use blood glucose more effectively, reducing blood sugar.
The conclusion of this study implies that meal timing and fasting have many health benefits to reduce the chance of type 2 diabetes and other health issues. This is very intriguing to me because I have heard many mixed opinions from friends and family if eating times do have any type of effect on our health!
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