Avoid Bright Light at Night: A Simple Way to Reduce Diabetes Risk

According to a study conducted by Flinders University (Australia) and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, presents compelling evidence of a link between light exposure and the risk of developing type 2 (acquired) diabetes. the body uses insulin. It develops over many years, is difficult to treat, and is often associated with lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and obesity. “We found that Exposure to brighter light at night has been associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.” says lead author Associate Professor Andrew Phillips from the Faculty of Medicine and Public Health.

Study design and results

In a large-scale modeling exercise, the research team examined whether individual patterns of light exposure could predict diabetes risk using data from about 85,000 people and 13 million hours of light sensor data. Participants who did not have type 2 diabetes wore wrist-mounted devices for a week that recorded light levels during the day and night. Next, observation over the next nine years to see if they developed type 2 diabetes. “Nighttime exposure to light can. change our circadian rhythm and cause changes in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism,” he explains. “Changes in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism caused by disrupted circadian rhythms affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which can ultimately lead to the development of type 2 diabetes,” they add. Increased light exposure at night (12:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.) was associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of the amount of light you were exposed to during the day. The study also took into account other factors associated with type 2 diabetes, such as lifestyle, sleep patterns, shift work, diet and mental health. Even after taking these factors into account, the results showed that increased light exposure at night was still a strong predictor of developing diabetes.The results showed that exposure to brighter light at night was associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes.with a dose-dependent relationship between light exposure and risk,” says Professor Phillips. “Our findings suggest that reducing light exposure at night and keeping it dark may be a simple and cheap way to prevent or delay the development of diabetes,” he adds.