Study
Efficacy and Safety of Time-Restricted Eating in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
In 32 adults with type 1 diabetes and overweight or obesity, six months of 8-hour time-restricted eating lowered HbA1c versus calorie restriction without increasing severe glycemic events, but did not clearly outperform control for weight loss.
Mary-Claire Runchey and colleagues randomized 32 adults with type 1 diabetes and overweight or obesity to 8-hour time-restricted eating, 25% daily calorie restriction, or no intervention for six months. The eating window ran from noon to 8 p.m. and did not require calorie counting. The primary endpoint was percentage change in body weight. Time-restricted eating produced a -2.19% change versus control, with a 95% confidence interval of -5.70 to -1.31. The abstract describes this contrast as not significant. The comparison with calorie restriction was -1.73% (95% CI -5.37 to 1.92). HbA1c fell more with time-restricted eating than with calorie restriction by -0.46 percentage points (95% CI -0.80 to -0.12). Total insulin dose and mean glucose did not differ significantly. No increase in diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, or severe hyperglycemia appeared. This is a small, six-month dietary trial. It tests weight and glycemic outcomes, not lifespan or validated biological-age endpoints. The result supports short-term safety and a possible HbA1c benefit, not a general longevity claim.
These findings suggest that TRE may be a safe approach for reducing HbA1c levels in T1D, although not more effective for weight loss compared with CR or a control group.
Small sample. Six-month duration. The study was not powered for longevity outcomes. The time-restricted eating arm was compared with both calorie restriction and no intervention, so the independent effect of meal timing remains difficult to separate from changes in energy intake.
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