Another incentive to secure a window seat is its potential to help manage blood sugar levels. Anton Dios/Shutterstock
Many of us prefer sitting by a window to enhance our mood, but exposure to natural light during the day may also be beneficial for blood sugar control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Our cells and tissues operate on circadian rhythms, or 24-hour metabolic cycles that influence factors like blood sugar levels. Studies indicate that exposure to artificial light at night can disrupt these rhythms. This raises blood sugar levels, while individuals who spend more time outdoors in sunlight experience enhanced insulin response, a hormone crucial for regulating those levels.
Despite these findings, none of these studies explored the advantages of receiving natural light through windows, especially since most people spend significant time indoors, according to Joris Fuchs from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
To investigate further, Fuchs and his team enlisted 13 participants with type 2 diabetes, averaging 70 years old, to spend 4.5 days in a room with only natural light from large windows from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participants continued their usual diabetes medications and largely sat at desks with access to their mobile phones and computers, with their screens dimmed. In the evenings, they were exposed to soft artificial light and could use their devices until 11 p.m., then slept in complete darkness until 7 a.m. They consumed similar meals three times daily to maintain stable weight and followed consistent exercise routines over the 4.5 days.
The researchers conducted a similar experiment with the same group, this time in a windowless room under artificial light. This phase occurred either one month before or after the natural light segment of the study.
Throughout both experiments, participants wore devices to monitor their blood sugar levels continuously; however, due to technical difficulties, data was only obtainable from 10 individuals.
The results indicated that during weeks with more natural light, participants maintained their blood sugar levels within a healthy range 50% of the time, compared to only 43% in the artificial light experiment.
The researchers defined a healthy blood sugar range as 4.4 to 7.2 mmol per liter, aligning with guidelines from the UK National Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although the difference between the two studies may seem minor, extended periods outside of a healthy range can impact an individual’s health significantly, increasing the risk of diabetes-related complications, including heart problems, according to Fuchs.
The positive impact of sunlight may stem from the fact that light-sensitive cells in the eye, crucial for regulating metabolic activity cycles, are particularly responsive to shorter wavelengths present in natural light, Fuchs explained.
Further research is essential to validate these findings; however, Fuchs suggests that many individuals with type 2 diabetes can benefit from increased exposure to natural light, even if it’s simply by sitting near a window. “It’s easy, free, and accessible to all,” Hoeks said. It remains uncertain whether individuals with type 1 diabetes or prediabetes gain similar benefits.
Glenn Jeffrey from University College London emphasizes the necessity for larger studies to substantiate these results. Nonetheless, he noted, “the significance of sunlight is gradually gaining recognition.”
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Source: www.newscientist.com
