Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common form of diabetes, but little is known about the impact of blue light on its development.
A study of 471,686 participants from the UK Biobank analyzed whether exposure to blue light (via TV screens, computer screens and video games) could promote the onset of diabetes.
What did the study reveal?
After 13 years of follow-up, 18,738 cases of diabetes were recorded. The results show that:
- People with high exposure to blue light have an increased risk of developing diabetes (+17% compared to those with lower exposure).
- This effect is observed even in those with good sleep habits, who exercise or spend time outdoors.
- People with a genetic predisposition to diabetes are particularly vulnerable to this effect of blue light.
Why is this important?
Before reaching the stage of diabetes, many people go through a pre-diabetes phase, when blood sugar levels start to become too high. This phase is reversible, and these findings suggest that limiting screen time, especially in the evening, could be a simple strategy for reducing risk.
In short
Too much blue light could influence metabolism and promote the onset of diabetes, even in healthy people.
Adapting our screen exposure habits could therefore be a way of better protecting our glycemic balance and preventing pre-diabetes.
Learn more about Pep2Dia to maintain a healthy glycemia!
Sources:
The association between blue light exposure and incidence of type 2 diabetes: A prospective study of UK biobank.
Wang C, Zhao Y, Hong Q, Lei Y, Wang S, Wang W, Wei W, Sun C, Han T.
Environ Res. 2024 Apr 1;246:118070.
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118070.