Daylight is a boon for diabetes patients, a new scientific method to control sugar.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Natural daylight is beneficial for diabetics in many ways. It improves vitamin D production, metabolism, and circadian rhythm (the body's internal clock), which helps control blood sugar, increases insulin sensitivity, and increases fat oxidation (fat burning), which improves overall sugar balance and energy metabolism, as well as boosts mood and the immune system.

According to a study, exposure to daylight improves health, helping people with type 2 diabetes achieve better glycemic control. Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland and Maastricht University in the Netherlands found that people who were exposed to natural light had blood sugar levels that remained within the normal range for more hours of the day and fluctuated less.

The beneficial effects of natural light

Additionally, their melatonin levels, the sleep hormone, were slightly higher in the evening, and fat oxidative metabolism also improved. The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, provides the first evidence of a beneficial effect of natural light on people with this condition. "It has been known for many years that disruptions in circadian rhythms play a major role in the development of metabolic disorders, which are affecting an increasing proportion of the Western population," said Charna Dibner, Associate Professor at UNIGE.

Study on 13 people over 65 years of age

For the study, the team recruited 13 people aged 65 and older, all with type 2 diabetes. They spent 4.5 days in specially designed living spaces illuminated either by natural light through large windows or by artificial light. After a break of at least four weeks, they returned for a second session, this time in a different lighting environment.

Positive changes seen in analysis

To better understand the positive changes observed in the body's metabolism , the scientists took blood and muscle samples from the subjects before, during, and after each light treatment. They analyzed blood lipids, metabolites, and gene transcripts, along with the regulation of molecular clocks in cultured skeletal muscle cells.

Overall, the results clearly show that natural light influences the internal clock and metabolism. "This may be due to improved blood sugar regulation and better coordination between the central clock in the brain and the clocks in the organs," Dibner said.

Read More: Why do we vomit in a moving vehicle? You'll be surprised to learn the reason, and follow these 4 tips to avoid it.