Improving glycemic control for diabetics

Diabetics who take insulin injections and other medications may one day be able to replace them by a simple change in eating habits. In a recent study from researchers at Tel Aviv University, it was found that a carb-heavy meal consumed early in the morning coupled with a small dinner could help achieve control of glucose levels.

The research shows that humans’ metabolism and biological clock are optimized for eating in the morning and for fasting during the evening and night. “But the usual diet recommended for type 2 diabetes consists of several small meals evenly distributed throughout the day—for example, three meals and three snacks daily, including a snack before going to sleep to prevent a drop in sugar levels during the night,” says study lead author Daniela Jakubowicz, in a press release. “But the ‘6M diet,’ as this is called, has not been effective for sugar control, so diabetics require additional medication and insulin. And insulin injections lead to weight gain, which further increases blood sugar levels.”

For the study, 28 participants with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to one of two diets—a three-meal diet (3M diet) or an isocaloric 6M diet. The participants adhering to the 3M diet ate a morning meal of bread, fruits, and sweets, followed by a hearty lunch and a small dinner without starches, sweets, and fruits.

The researchers found that the group on the traditional 6M diet did not lose weight or improve their sugar levels. In fact, they required an increase in medication and insulin doses. However, the participants on the 3M diet lost weight and improved their sugar levels. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the hunger and cravings only in the group assigned to the 3M diet.

The researchers explained that the 3M diet improved the expression of biological clock genes, which suggests that the diet may also prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. According to the researchers, the upregulation of the biological clock gene expression enhances insulin secretion and improves the delivery of sugar into the muscles, which helps to balance daytime and nocturnal glucose metabolism. The next step in the research is to investigate proteins in breakfast foods and their effect on diabetics.