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Intermittent fasting shows promise for Type 1 diabetes. A first-of-its-kind study from the University of Illinois Chicago found that restricting eating to an 8-hour window (noon–8 p.m.) improved blood sugar control in adults with Type 1 diabetes and obesity — without raising the risk of dangerous complications like hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.
A groundbreaking study from the University of Illinois Chicago is the first to examine the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) in adults with Type 1 diabetes — and the early results are encouraging. Led by nutrition professor Krista Varady, the six-month trial enrolled 32 participants with both Type 1 diabetes and obesity, randomly assigning them to an 8-hour eating window (noon–8 p.m.), a 25% calorie reduction, or no dietary changes.
The time-restricted eating group outperformed the calorie-reduction group on blood sugar control, with no increased risk of hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis — two serious concerns that had previously made researchers cautious about applying fasting strategies to this population.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: For a condition with limited lifestyle-based management tools, TRE could offer a practical, low-cost complement to insulin therapy — but researchers stress that patients should only make dietary changes under close medical supervision. Larger, multi-site trials are planned.
