Chills improve glucose tolerance and reduce fasting blood sugar in overweight or obese people at risk for type 2 diabetes.
- 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
- It is caused by a disturbance in carbohydrate metabolism, which increases the concentration of glucose in the blood.
- The disease increases the risk of myocardial infarction, kidney disorders, liver diseases, etc.
Summer is coming to an end, and temperatures are gradually dropping. If the cold is often considered unpleasant, it could be useful in the prevention of diseases. According to one researchpresented on the occasion of Congress annual report of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, exposure to cold for obese or overweight people could prevent type 2 diabetes.
An hour of chills to observe the effects of cold on type 2 diabetes
The authors of the study relied on the conclusions of previous research: when humans are cold, glucose is eliminated more quickly from the blood. A study has shown that ten days of acclimatization to mild cold (14 to 15°C, 6 hours a day) markedly improved insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. researchers recruited 15 overweight or obese volunteers. For ten consecutive days, they were exposed to cold using a perfused gel, to generate shivers. The participants went from 32°C to 10°C, until shivering for an hour a day. Chills were assessed using devices placed on the skin that detect muscle electrical activity, but also by observing their reactions. The scientists also performed oral glucose tolerance tests and heart rate and blood pressure measurements.
Cold improves various indicators associated with type 2 diabetes
“Results showed that repeated cold-induced chills significantly reduced mean fasting plasma glucose concentrations from 5.84 to 5.67 mmol/L and improved glucose tolerance by 6%“, conclude the authors. Blood insulin concentrations did not change after cold exposure, suggesting that the improvement in fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance were not the consequence of an increase in insulin in the blood. Fasting blood tests also showed a decrease in the concentration of triglycerides and free fatty acids, by 32 and 11% respectively. “These are the body’s main fat fuels and are thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and contribute to insulin resistance.”, say the authors. Repeated cold exposure also reduced blood pressure and resting heart rate. “Our findings are promising and could have important health implications, given that shivering improves many indicators of cardiometabolic health associated with diseases like type 2 diabetes.”, summarizes Adam Sellers. Ultimately, the scientist and his team want to renew the research, this time targeting adults with type 2 diabetes.
