Nighttime exposure to indoor light spikes diabetes risk 44%

The Diabetes Menace INSIDE Your Home

If you saw my article in last week’s e-Tips, you know that chronic exposure to nighttime outdoor light can put you on the fast track to diabetes.

But what about the light INSIDE your home?

Well, while it’s true there’s no place like home…

Switching on the lights as soon as the sun goes down – and staring at the screen of your smartphone, tablet, computer, or TV screen for hours – could be even MORE dangerous.

And you’re ESPECIALLY vulnerable if you’re a senior… work the night shift… or regularly stay up past your bedtime, exposing yourself to the blue light pouring out of your screen.

Keep reading to find out WHY… along with steps you can take to help reduce your risk.

Night and Day

As I told you last week, exposure to artificial light at night tricks your body into thinking it’s DAYTIME.

That disrupts your circadian rhythm, your body’s master clock, which is tied to the earth’s natural light/dark cycle.

Our bodies are designed to be active during the day, when the sun is out… and rest and recover at night, when it’s dark.

Darkness triggers the body to produce melatonin, which helps you feel sleepy and ready for bed. But exposure to artificial light at night IMPAIRS melatonin production.

Friend, that’s a problem because melatonin is ALSO critical to the immune system, where it helps protect against disease.

And that can make you a sitting duck for high blood sugar and diabetes.

In fact, one study found that night shift workers had a 44 percent greater risk of diabetes than day workers.

That’s not surprising, because working at night requires spending hours under artificial light when it’s dark outside… and maybe ALSO using a computer or smartphone.

As a result, melatonin levels PLUNGE… when they should be RISING.

And when night workers go home, they have to sleep during the day – at exactly the time their bodies are SUPPOSED to be awake.

Screen Test

Friend, it can be difficult – if not downright impossible – to avoid artificial light outside your home at night…

But you CAN control how much light you’re exposed to INSIDE.

Once the sun goes down, LIMIT the amount of time you spend staring at your smartphone, tablet, and TV screens. And DON’T bring your phone into your bedroom when you head off to bed.

Easier said than done, I know. But at least try to limit or avoid blue light exposure two hours before bedtime to protect your health.

You can also wear blue light glasses, which block the blue light streaming from LED screens.

But don’t stop there. Here are some steps to help lower your risk of diabetes.

First, cut your carbs. The BEST way to do that is to slash your intake of processed foods and sugars – better yet, cut them down to zero.

Second, look to natural medicine to control blood sugar WITHOUT drugs

I like berberine, which works as well as the prescription drug metformin, but without the side effects. Take 500 mg 30 minutes before meals.

But speak with your doctor first, or work with an integrative or functional medicine doctor to find the best approach for you.

Source:

“Exposure to outdoor lights at night can significantly increase diabetes risk.” StudyFinds, November 14, 2022.

(studyfinds.org/outdoor-lights-diabetes-risk)