Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the level of blood glucose, also known as sugar, is too high, causing various health complications.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), this disease is one of the leading causes of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and lower limb amputations. “Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of these complications and premature mortality. In addition, people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
This condition occurs because the body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar, which is released into the bloodstream. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which acts as a key that allows this glucose to enter cells in the body so they can use it for energy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain. , the United States. .
However, when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it properly, glucose remains in the blood and over time can cause the serious health problems mentioned above.
The best strategies for fighting diabetes focus on healthy eating and regular physical activity. It is important, for example, to choose foods that are high in fiber, low in fat and low in calories. This includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
When it comes to exercise, the expert recommendation is to perform at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days of the week, or about 150 minutes per week.. It is also very important to lose weight when there are a few extra pounds or try to control it when it is at the indicated levels.
favorable habit
Now, a study by scientists from Maastricht University, the Netherlands, concludes another way to treat diabetes. Research conducted on 14 patients between the ages of 50 and 75 with diabetes II showed that following a controlled and healthy eating habit can help regulate the metabolism of people with this disease.
One of the conclusions, according to an article published on the Alimente portal, of the daily The confidential, from Spain, was that reducing food consumption time to ten hours can lower blood sugar levels. Ideally, you should have a longer overnight fast. For scientists, the body needs to rest and digest the food consumed for a few more hours for the metabolism to work properly.
Thus, consuming food only during the day promotes the digestion that the body performs at night and benefits overall health. The recommendation is then to advance the dinner time so that when the person falls asleep, the body has already digested the greatest amount of what it has eaten.
As part of the study, the participants received a normal diet for a period of 10 hours during the day and outside this period they were allowed to drink water, tea or black coffee, products which they could consume in moderation. One of the findings was that time-restricted eating reduced 24-hour blood sugar levels due to nighttime low blood sugar. Morning fasting blood sugar also showed a reduction.
Thus, not only what is consumed is important, but also the times and periods during which it is consumed. However, the investigators indicate that more studies are required in order to determine if the duration of the ayuno period is really crucial to determine the positive effects on the sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that regulates and controls the levels of azúcar in the blood.