Time-restricted eating (TRE) within an eight-hour window may help adults with type 1 diabetes and overweight control their blood sugar levels, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Diabetes Care. Researchers found that limiting daily food intake to the hours between noon and 8 p.m. significantly reduced HbA1c levels compared to standard care, offering a potential new tool for managing the condition.
Clinical Trial Findings on Time-Restricted Eating
The study, led by Mary-Claire Runchey, R.D., and colleagues at the University of Illinois in Chicago, examined 32 adults with type 1 diabetes who were classified as overweight or obese. Investigators wanted to see if an eight-hour eating window was more effective for reducing body weight and improving glycemic control than standard care—defined as a daily calorie restriction of 25 percent—or no intervention at all. By month six, data showed that body weight did not change significantly in the TRE group, which saw a 2.19 percent reduction, or the calorie restriction group, which saw a 0.47 percent reduction, when compared to the control group.
However, significant differences emerged when researchers analyzed blood sugar control. In the time-restricted eating group, HbA1c levels dropped significantly compared to the calorie restriction group, registering a 0.46 percent reduction. Across all study arms, researchers observed no significant differences in total insulin dose or mean glucose levels.
Safety Outcomes and Insulin Management
A primary concern for clinicians evaluating intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating in patients with type 1 diabetes is the potential for acute metabolic complications. According to the findings published in Diabetes Care, the eight-hour feeding window did not increase the risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, or severe hyperglycemia.
“This is the first step to showing time-restricted eating could be a safe, potentially effective method for people with type 1 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels,” lead author Krista Varady, Ph.D., also from the University of Illinois, said in a statement reported by HealthDay.
Despite the positive findings regarding HbA1c reductions, researchers and medical editors emphasize that patients should not alter their dietary regimens without professional medical supervision. “Of course, this is just the first step,” Varady noted. “Anyone making changes to their eating habits, especially those with diabetes, must work closely with their endocrinologist or health care provider to find a solution that works for them.”
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