New Diabetes Risk Factor REVEALED
Type 2 diabetes has been in the news a lot lately.
But not because of its deadly impact on us older folks. Instead, our grandkids (and great-grandkids) are in the crosshairs this time.
A landmark study was just published by the journal of the American Diabetes Association. It warns that cases of type 2 diabetes could increase by nearly 657 percent by 2060 in people under 20 years old.
If numbers like those don’t stop you in your tracks, I don’t know what will.
Of course, body weight can also factor into the development of type 2 diabetes. And the surge in overweight and obese children no doubt contributes to numbers like these.
But there’s more to it than that.
In fact, another recent study points the finger at a DIFFERENT trigger for this alarming spike in type 2 diabetes.
And this is something we ALL need to pay more attention to—no matter our age.The further away we get from how nature intended us to live, the sicker we get.
This applies to many areas of life, but today I’m going to focus on your circadian rhythm.
Your body’s built-in internal clock follows the sun. When the sun’s up, you’re supposed to be up too.
And that doesn’t mean enjoying your morning coffee in your La-Z-Boy. You must step outside and get the sun’s rays directly onto your skin and into your eyes.
On the flip side, when the sun goes down, we should, too!
Staying up past dark—compounded by exposure to artificial light at night—doesn’t JUST set you up for sleep problems, hormone problems, weight gain, and cancer risk.
According to the latest research, it’s a significant factor in the recent type 2 diabetes surge.
This study showed a CLEAR LINK between exposure to artificial light at night, increased diabetes risk, and impaired blood glucose control.
In fact, based on this research, the scientists estimate that over 9 million cases of type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults ALONE are caused by this exposure.
This kind of light pollution has devastating impacts on animals as well—leading to premature death and loss of biodiversity in insects, birds, and other animals.
And it’s all because of a disrupted circadian rhythm.
Other animal studies have shown that mice exposed to dim white light at night had reduced glucose tolerance and increased body mass index compared to mice that were kept in the dark during the night.
Exposure to artificial light at night has also been connected to:
- Increased risk of coronary heart disease
- Increased risk of obesity
- Diabetes in older people
Other studies comparing satellite images of light pollution to general health markers by region saw a clear connection between light pollution and BMI, blood pressure, and impaired lipids.
The new study found that the areas of China with the highest exposure to artificial light at night had a 28 percent increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
Now I know you might not be able to change where you live, but you CAN change how you live.
Every little step toward supporting your circadian rhythm is one in the right direction—both for your general health and for reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes.
And one of the best ways to start is by exposing yourself to MORE sunlight… especially in the early morning light.
P.S. ALREADY battling diabetes? Don’t despair. A simple “timing” trick can reverse the condition in 3 months FLAT. Click HERE for all the details.
SOURCE:
“Outdoor light at night in relation to glucose homoeostasis and diabetes in Chinese adults: a national and cross-sectional study of 98,658 participants from 162 study sites.” Diabetologia 66, 336–345 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-022-05819-x
