What if the time you eat breakfast had an impact on your blood sugar? This is what a recent study published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews reveals. According to researchers, staggering the first meal of the day could help reduce blood sugar peaks, particularly in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. A simple and promising strategy for better blood sugar management.
Type 2 diabetes, a constantly progressing chronic disease, often requires dietary and lifestyle adjustments. The study published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews highlights an element that is still little explored: the timing of meals. In particular, blood sugar fluctuations after breakfast are influenced by biological factors such as the “dawn phenomenon” (a natural increase in blood sugar upon waking) and cortisol peaks in the early morning.
The researchers conducted a study on 14 adults aged 30 to 70 years old, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Divided into three groups, the participants tested different times for their breakfast: 7:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The results are edifying: the later breakfast is eaten, the more significant the reduction in blood sugar peaks after the meal.
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Shift breakfast to limit blood sugar spikes
The data collected shows that Participants who ate breakfast at 9:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. showed a notable reduction in their blood sugar levels after the meal compared to those who ate at 7:00 a.m. These results therefore suggest that eating breakfast late tends to reduce the blood sugar peak. Information to combine with the requirements of your schedule to set the ideal time for having breakfast.
This difference is explained by better synchronization with natural hormonal cycles, thus reducing the impact of the factors responsible for morning peaks. On the other hand, the study notes that the content of the meal or the frequency of meals were not modified, confirming that it is indeed the time of breakfast which plays a determining role.
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Blood sugar: what about physical activity?
Another aspect of the study evaluated the effect of a 20-minute brisk walk after breakfast. If this activity had a positive impact on blood sugar levels for the groups who ate their meal at 7:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m., it was not very significant for those eating at 9:30 a.m. This result suggests that the breakfast schedule could be a more powerful lever than physical exercise immediately after the meal.
For people suffering from diabetes or wishing to prevent blood sugar fluctuations, adjusting the breakfast schedule could become a simple and accessible solution. However, researchers emphasize the importance of medical monitoring to personalize this approach. Although the results are encouraging, larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these observations. In the meantime, why not try shifting your breakfast, under medical supervision, to see if it makes a difference to your blood sugar? A strategy which, combined with a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, could well transform your management of blood sugar levels.
A journalist passionate about social issues and current affairs, Hugo puts his pen at the service of information. Interested in all themes, from the impact of artificial intelligence on…
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