Individuals with diabetes who eat a high amount of carbs in the evening have a higher mortality risk than those with a lower intake, a new study has revealed.
Researchers from The Endocrine Society have found that the heart health of people with diabetes is better amongst those who consume processed foods in the morning, rather than at night.
According to the academics, people with diabetes should consider what time of the day they consume processed foods, with it being just as significant as monitoring their portion sizes and calorie intake.
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To maintain good health, people with diabetes should also consume meals in line with the biological clock, the study has reported.
Lead author Dr Qingrao Song, from Harbin Medical University, said: “We observed that eating potatoes in the morning, whole grains in the afternoon, greens and milk in the evening and less processed meat in the evening was associated with better long-term survival in people with diabetes.
“Nutritional guidelines and intervention strategies for diabetes should integrate the optimal consumption times for foods in the future.”
During the study, the team of scientists examined the data of more than 4,500 participants with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess their risk of heart disease mortality.
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They discovered that the participants who consumed potatoes or starchy vegetables in the evening were more likely to die from heart disease.
Additionally, they found that mortality rates from heart disease were higher amongst the participants who ate large portions of meat later in the day.
The study is now available in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
