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Time-restricted Eating, Window Timing, Type 2 Diabetes Status and Sex on Glycemic Control

The Impact of Time-restricted Eating, Window Timing, Type 2 Diabetes Status and Sex on Glycemic Control

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06118931
Enrollment
123
Registered
2023-11-07
Start date
2025-06-28
Completion date
2027-06-28
Last updated
2026-06-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Hyperglycemia, Obesity, Prediabetic State

Keywords

Time-restricted eating, Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, Glycemic Control

Brief summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of time-restricted eating (TRE), which is a form of intermittent fasting. When performing TRE, individuals consume all of their calories within a specific time window and then only consume water or other no calorie drinks the rest of the day. TRE is performed each day. There is no restriction on the quality or amount of food that people can consume during their eating window (ad libitum eating) with TRE, which can last anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. We are comparing three different 9-hour eating windows to determine whether the start and stop time of the eating window impact blood sugar control in individuals with obesity who also have or are at risk for type 2 diabetes. We also aim to determine if there are differences in the effects of the timing of eating window between males and females.

Detailed description

The overarching aim of this study is to evaluate the interactions between TRE window timing, type 2 diabetes status, and sex among individuals with obesity. The first objective is to compare the effects of three 9-h TRE window times (early: 7:00-16:00 h, mid: 9:30-18:30 h, delayed: 12:00-21:00 h) on real-time, free-living glycemic control. The second objective is to determine if type 2 diabetes status (type 2 diabetes versus prediabetes or moderate+ risk for type 2 diabetes aka at risk for type 2 diabetes) modifies the effect of eating window timing on glycemic control outcomes. The exploratory objectives include: 1) determine whether sex modifies TRE adherence or the effect of TRE on metabolic changes relative to control; and 2) to compare changes in dietary intake, body weight, and blood pressure within and between early, mid, and delayed TRE. We have the following hypotheses related to these objectives: 1. The early TRE window will result in the most favourable glycemic control outcomes but also the lowest participant acceptability followed by mid and delayed TRE. 2. There will be larger differences in glycemic control outcomes between the TRE window timings among those with type 2 diabetes compared to those at risk for type 2 diabetes. 3. TRE adherence and changes in glycemic control, and weight loss with all TRE window times (relative to control) will be higher in men vs women. 4. Energy, carbohydrate, and sugar intake, body weight, and blood pressure will decrease during TRE, but with no differences by window timing.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALEarly (7:00 - 16:00) TRE

A standardized TRE Protocol where participants eat ad libitum between the hours of 7:00 to 16:00 for 7 days. On the 8th day, they will consume a meal replacement beverage at 7:00, and not consume anything else for two hours.

BEHAVIORALMid (9:30 - 18:30) TRE

A standardized TRE Protocol where participants eat ad libitum between the hours of 9:30 to 18:30 for 7 days. On the 8th day, they will consume a meal replacement beverage at 9:30, and not consume anything else for two hours.

BEHAVIORALLate (12:00 - 21:00) TRE

A standardized TRE Protocol where participants eat ad libitum between the hours of 12:00 to 21:00 for 7 days. On the 8th day, they will consume a meal replacement beverage at 12:00, and not consume anything else for two hours.

Sponsors

University of Toronto
Lead SponsorOTHER
Diabetes Canada
CollaboratorOTHER
Wharton Medical Clinic
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Aged 40 years or older * Body mass index \<50 kg/m2 * Have access to an Apple or Android cellphone with Bluetooth. * Have type 2 diabetes or be at risk for type 2 diabetes (defined as self-report of pre-diabetes, a recent (within 12 months) measure of HbA1c between 5.7 and 6.4%, waist circumference (WC) that is BMI specific; for women: BMI \>= 18.5-24.9, WC \>= 80cm; BMI \>= 25-29.9, WC \>= 90cm; BMI \>= 30-34.9, WC \>= 105cm; BMI \>= 35+, WC \>= 115cm; for men: BMI \>= 18.5-24.9, WC \>= 90cm; BMI \>= 25-29.9, WC \>= 100cm; BMI \>= 30-34.9, WC \>= 110cm; BMI \>= 35+, WC \>= 125cm.

Exclusion criteria

* Individuals with type 2 diabetes will be excluded if: (1) currently on \>2 monotherapies for diabetes, (2) have had diabetes therapy medication or dosage changes \<3 months, (3) self-reported hemoglobin A1c \>9.0%, (4) taking exogenous insulin, or (5) taking sulfonylureas * The following

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Average 24-hour glucose total area under the curve (AUC) over 7 days7 daysAssessed for 7 continuous days using a continuous glucose monitor.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Average 24-hour glucose over 7 days7 daysAssessed for 7 continuous days using a continuous glucose monitor.
Average daily nocturnal glucose over 7 evenings7 daysAssessed for 7 continuous evenings based on the sleep period identified by the Fitbit tracker using a continuous glucose monitor.
Average daily time spent in hyperglycemia over 7 days7 daysThe average number of hours with glucose \>10 mmol/L over 7 continuous days assessed with a continuous glucose monitor.
Postprandial glucose2 hoursAssessed on the morning after the 7th day of each TRE protocol. Participants will consume a standardized breakfast at a specified time, and glucose will be evaluated via continuous glucose monitor from the time they start consuming the breakfast for 2 hours.
Glycemic viability7 daysThe average of each standard metrics of glycemic viability (standard deviation, coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glycemic exercise, and continuous overall net glycemic action) will be calculated over 7 continuous days from continuous glucose monitors.
Patient acceptability7 daysPatient acceptability will be assessed based on researcher-developed questions related to their experience with each TRE protocol.
TRE fasting duration adherence7 daysParticipants will receive twice daily text messages asking what time they started and stopped eating that day, which will be used to calculate the length of the fast each day. Adherence will be calculated as the % of days where the participant fasted for 15h or longer.
TRE fasting window adherence7 daysThe proportion of days where participants began and ended their meal within 15 min or 30 min of their prescribed time.

Countries

Canada

Contacts

CONTACTAmy A Kirkham, PhD
amy.kirkham@utoronto.ca416-946-4069
CONTACTTeresita Gormaz Clinical Trial coordinator, MsC
establish.study.kpe@utoronto.ca+1-416-946-0036
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAmy A. Kirkham, PhD

University of Toronto

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 1, 2026