The Study
1910-LB: Effects of a 6-Month Lifestyle Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes Featuring Intermittent Energy Restriction or Time-Restricted Eating on Glucose Tolerance and Body Weight
This study gave two different eating plans to people with diabetes and saw that their blood sugar and weight got better. But it didn't compare their plans to what doctors usually recommend, so we can't say these plans are better than the usual care.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Two ways of eating fewer meals—either eating only during an 8-hour window or eating very little on a few days each week—were tested in adults with type 2 diabetes and extra weight.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 569 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes—these changes are big enough to matter for health, like reducing diabetes complications and improving daily energy levels.
- 2Both methods lowered blood sugar (HbA1c dropped by 0.5–0.6%) and helped people lose 7–8 kg over 6 months, with 87–93% of people sticking with the plan.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Diabetes
Year
2025
Authors
Felicia Steger, Kristine Grdinovac, Joseph Donnelly, Corby K. Martin, John M Miles, Robert Montgomery, Lauren Clark, John P. Thyfault
Related Content
Claims (5)
In adults with type 2 diabetes and excess body weight, a 6-month diet plan that includes two to three very low-calorie days per week lowers HbA1c by 0.6%, reduces glucose exposure over time by 65 mg·h/dL, and decreases body weight by 6.9 kg.
In adults with type 2 diabetes and excess body weight, a 6-month diet and eating schedule that limits food intake to an 8-hour window at least five days per week, along with reduced calorie intake, lowers HbA1c by 0.5%, reduces blood glucose exposure by 61 mg·h/dL, and decreases body weight by 8.1 kg.
Among adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity, two different eating patterns—time-restricted eating with reduced calories and intermittent calorie restriction—result in the same level of improvement in blood sugar control and weight loss after six months.
In adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity, a 6-month lifestyle program using either intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating with calorie control retains 87% to 93% of participants, showing these methods are feasible in clinical settings.
In adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity, a 6-month lifestyle program with behavioral support and medical monitoring leads to measurable reductions in HbA1c and body weight, but it is not possible to determine whether intermittent fasting contributes more than general lifestyle education because no control group was used.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.