A 24-week study in India finds that combining a lacto-vegetarian diet with a 14-hour daily eating window improves blood sugar control and promotes weight loss in women with type 2 diabetes, offering promising insights into dietary management of the condition.
An Indian clinical trial published in Nutrition & Diabetes suggests that a lacto-vegetarian diet combined with a 14-hour daily eating window may help women with type 2 diabetes improve blood sugar control and lose weight. The 24-week study, conducted among 96 women aged 25 to 60 who were already on stable medication, compared the dietary plan with standard care and found better metabolic results in the intervention group.
According to the researchers, the eating plan was built around whole grains and fibre-rich foods, with protein making up 15% to 20% of calories, fat 20% to 25% and carbohydrates 50% to 55%. Women in the intervention arm reduced their average calorie intake by 9% and increased fibre consumption by 16%, while HbA1c, a measure of longer-term blood sugar control, fell by 1.12 percentage points. Average weight also dropped from 76.25 kilograms to 70.93 kilograms.
The control group, by contrast, saw weight increase over the same period. The study also reported gains in insulin sensitivity and lipid levels, pointing to broader metabolic benefits beyond weight loss alone. That matters because type 2 diabetes is often managed not only through medication but also through changes in diet and eating patterns.
The findings add to earlier evidence that diet quality and carbohydrate timing can influence diabetes outcomes. Previous research in India has also linked low-glycaemic vegetarian meal plans with better glucose and lipid profiles, suggesting that plant-based eating patterns may be particularly useful when they emphasise minimally processed foods and fibre.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
