Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 10: Spending time in daylight may play a significant role in improving metabolic health and blood sugar regulation in people with type 2 diabetes, according to new research.
A study conducted by scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland and Maastricht University in the Netherlands found that individuals exposed to natural light maintained blood glucose levels within the normal range for longer periods each day and showed reduced fluctuations in sugar levels.
The researchers also observed additional health benefits among participants exposed to daylight, including slightly higher evening levels of melatonin—the hormone that regulates sleep—and improved fat oxidation, indicating better metabolic efficiency.
Published in the journal Cell Metabolism, the study offers the first direct evidence that natural light exposure can have a positive impact on metabolic regulation in people living with type 2 diabetes.
“For several years, we have known that disturbances to circadian rhythms play a crucial role in the development of metabolic disorders, which are becoming increasingly common in Western societies,” said Charna Dibner, Associate Professor at UNIGE.
The study involved 13 volunteers aged 65 and above, all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Participants spent four and a half days in specially designed living environments—one illuminated by natural daylight through large windows, and the other by artificial lighting. After a washout period of at least four weeks, the participants returned to experience the alternate lighting condition.
To explore the biological mechanisms behind the observed benefits, researchers collected blood and muscle samples before, during and after each exposure period. They examined molecular clocks in skeletal muscle cells and analysed blood samples for lipids, metabolites and gene activity.
The findings revealed that natural light directly influenced the body’s internal biological clock and metabolic processes. According to Dibner, this enhanced alignment between the brain’s central clock and peripheral clocks in organs may explain the improved blood sugar control seen in participants.
The study suggests that simple lifestyle adjustments, such as increasing exposure to daylight, could become a supportive strategy in managing type 2 diabetes alongside existing treatments.