Effects of meal timing on blood sugar levels in teenagers with type 2 diabetes
Official title: Impact of Meal Timing on Glycemic Profiles in Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes
Funded at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · NIH-10991305 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether eating only during an 8-hour window each day can help teenagers with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar and body fat better, and it’s designed for teens who want to improve their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $168,072 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK134801-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991305 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 21 who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and are struggling with obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have type 2 diabetes or are outside the adolescent age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how time-limited eating, where adolescents eat within an 8-hour window and fast for 16 hours, affects blood sugar levels and body fat in teenagers with type 2 diabetes. The study aims to determine if this eating pattern can help reduce fluctuations in blood sugar, delay the decline of insulin-producing cells, and decrease body fat compared to longer eating periods. The research will involve monitoring participants' glucose levels and body composition over time to assess the effectiveness of this approach. The principal investigator, Alaina Vidmar, is a pediatric clinical scientist focused on improving treatment for adolescents with obesity and diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a simple and effective dietary strategy to improve blood sugar control and reduce body fat in adolescents with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence in adults suggests that time-limited eating can improve metabolic health, but this approach has not yet been tested specifically in adolescents with type 2 diabetes.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vidmar, Alaina P — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Vidmar, Alaina P
Related research
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Michigan Diabetes Project: A Peer-Led Self-Management Program for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
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-
Understanding why youth develop type 2 diabetes and how to prevent it
A nationwide study aims to unravel why some teens with obesity develop type 2 diabetes while others don’t, and to identify factors that could help prevent it.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.