Sunlight from windows may help regulate type 2 diabetes

A small European study reports that older adults with type 2 diabetes who spent time in naturally lit rooms had more hours per day with blood glucose in the normal range and showed improved metabolic profiles; participants spent 4.5 days in specially designed living spaces at Maastricht University.

A small European study reports that exposure to natural daylight through large windows was associated with more stable blood glucose in older adults with type 2 diabetes. The trial involved 13 volunteers over the age of 65 who spent 4.5 days in specially designed living spaces at Maastricht University. Some participants were assigned to naturally lit rooms while others stayed in an artificially lit area. The authors say the findings appear in the journal Cell Metabolism and describe this as the first evidence that natural light benefits people with this condition. Key findings: - Thirteen volunteers with type 2 diabetes, all over age 65, participated in the study. - Participants spent 4.5 days in controlled living spaces at Maastricht University. - Some volunteers were assigned to naturally lit rooms with large windows, while others were in an artificially lit area. - Researchers reported that time in naturally lit spaces was linked with more hours per day with blood glucose in the normal range and with overall improved metabolic profiles. - The paper appears in Cell Metabolism and includes comments from co-authors Charna Dibner and Joris Hoeks about circadian rhythms and differences between natural and artificial light. Summary: The reported results suggest that exposure to natural daylight was associated with more stable blood glucose and improved metabolic measures in the study group. The trial was small and took place in controlled living spaces, so broader implications are not established. Undetermined at this time.