Diabetes risk raised by eating ‘after this time’, according to new study

Experts are warning against eating a certain amount of your daily calories after this cut-off point

People are being urged to rethink their mealtimes as a study reveals that eating after a certain time of the day could increase your risk of a dangerous health condition. According to researchers, eating later in the day can spike blood sugar levels raising the risk of diabetes.

A new study published in Nutrition and Diabetes journal, showed that consuming more than 45 percent of your daily calories after 5pm is associated with elevated glucose levels, with harmful health consequences regardless of a person's weight and body fat.

As reported by Spanish news site El Debate, study author Dr Diana Díaz Rizzolo explained: "Persistently high glucose levels can lead to an increased risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, heightened cardiovascular risk due to damage to blood vessels caused by high glucose, and greater chronic inflammation, which exacerbates cardiovascular and metabolic damage."

The research, conducted by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) in Spain and Columbia University in the US, included 26 participants aged between 50 and 70 who were overweight or obese and had pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. It compared glucose tolerance among participants divided into two groups.

These groups were classed as “early eaters”, who consumed most calories before late afternoon-evening, and “late eaters”, who ate 45 percent or more of their calories after five in the evening. Both groups consumed the same calories and foods during the day but at different times.

Participants used a mobile app to record their meals in real-time. The main finding is that late eaters had poorer glucose tolerance regardless of their weight or diet composition.

They also tended to consume larger amounts of carbohydrates and fats during the late afternoon-evening.

Dr Díaz Rizzolo, an expert in obesity, diabetes, and ageing, continued: "At night, the body's ability to metabolise glucose is reduced because insulin secretion and cell sensitivity to this hormone decrease due to the circadian rhythm governed by a central clock in the brain that coordinates with daylight hours."

She added: "Until now personalised nutrition has been based on two main questions: how much to eat and what foods to choose. With this study, a new question gains importance in cardiometabolic prevention: when to eat.

Based on the study's findings, and with caution as further research is needed on this topic, the researcher advises that food intake should primarily occur during daylight hours and that "the largest calorie intake should be at breakfast and lunch rather than at tea time and dinner."

Dr Díaz Rizzolo also recommended avoiding ultra-processed products, fast food, and foods high in carbohydrates, especially at night. In the UK, around 90 percent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which is influenced by your weight and certain lifestyle choices.

The NHS says you can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes through healthy eating, regular exercise and achieving a healthy body weight.

You may be more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you:

• Are living with overweight or obesity
• Do not have a healthy diet
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Are of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin
• Take certain medicines such as steroids for a long time
• Have high blood pressure
• Have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.