Natural sunlight helps manage Type 2 Diabetes, says study

A new study shows that simply spending time in natural daylight can help people with Type 2 diabetes stay healthy. Researchers found that sunlight helps the body control blood sugar levels much better than artificial indoor lights.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Geneva and Maastricht University, was published in the journal ‘Cell Metabolism’. It is the first to demonstrate that natural light has a direct and positive effect on individuals with this condition.

The research showed that when patients were exposed to natural light, their blood glucose stayed in a healthy range for more hours during the day. They had higher levels of melatonin (the sleep hormone) in the evening, leading to better rest. Their bodies became better at processing fats.

Scientists tracked 13 volunteers over the age of 65 who had Type 2 diabetes. The volunteers lived in special rooms for about four days. In two different conditions:-

1.The First Group lived in rooms with large windows and plenty of natural sunlight.

2.The Second Group lived in rooms with only artificial (electric) light.

By testing blood and muscle samples, the team found that natural light helps ‘reset’ the body’s internal clock. This clock tells our organs how to process sugar and fat at the right times.

“We have known for a long time that breaking our body's natural rhythm causes health problems,” said Professor Charna Dibner, one of the researchers. This study suggests that getting more sunlight could be a simple, free way to help treat diabetes alongside medicine.