Sunlight Turned on Genes That Lower Blood Sugar....You've tried ACV - berberine - keto & fasting - but have you tried this?
Type 2 diabetes & Sunlight explained
A new study presented at the 2023 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) just proved what so many of us in the circadian/quantum space have been teaching for years....
People with type 2 diabetes improved their blood sugar control significantly - not with diet, exercise, or supplements - but with natural light exposure
The participants all had the same food, same sleep & same exercise, but the difference in the 2 groups came down to natural light vs. artificial indoor light.
Keep reading for more on this
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Light can reprogram the metabolism, and you don't need to spend a lot of extra money on a light box or a red light panel to make this work for you.
In this study - the subjects all had type 2 diabetes, and in daylight - blood sugar stayed in a healthy range 59% of the time, but under arificial indoor lighting? Just 51%.
This was due to simply being exposed to natural daylight during the day (from 8am to 5pm).
Even more fascinating? Gene expression changed depending on the type of light.
Sunlight activated genes related to:
Glucose metabolism
Fat storage
Mitochondrial respiration
Circadian rhythm
Redox signaling
For all my nerdy friends - here are a few of the key players:
• CLOCK / BMAL1: Core circadian genes that regulate insulin secretion and glucose tolerance
• PGC-1α (PPARGC1A): A light-sensitive gene regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism
• PER1/PER2: Light-entrained genes that coordinate hepatic glucose output and insulin sensitivity
• SIRT1: A redox-sensitive gene modulated by circadian rhythm and daylight exposure
• MT-ND1 / COX7A2L: Mitochondrial genes upregulated under natural light conditions - supporting better energy metabolism
On the other end of the spectrum: Artificial light - especially dim or blue-enriched light - suppresses BMAL1, blunts PGC-1α, and disrupts the SCN-to-periphery signaling pathway.
The result?
• Poor glucose uptake
• Lower mitochondrial efficiency
• Flattened cortisol rhythm
• Elevated insulin resistance
Yes, light can literally reprogram the metabolism, and this was all demonstrated in humans, with no change to food intake.
Light is a primary entrainer of circadian gene expression - especially in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue.
If your light environment is wrong, your metabolic clocks can quickly fall out of sync.....making you more prone to "storage mode".
You can become less responsive to insulin and leptin - even with a “clean” diet.....which is why so many people feel "stuck".
Now Let's talk about the key windows of light for your blood sugar - metabolism & overall health:
(download MyCircadianApp to find out when these happen for you)
1. Sunrise (Pre-UV, ~Blue-Violet Shift)
Signals the brain to reset the circadian clock via melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs).
Triggers the Cortisol Awakening Response, priming fat metabolism and mitochondrial ramp-up.
Upregulates genes like BMAL1, PER1, and PGC-1α that drive energy production and glucose utilization.
→ If this signal is missed, metabolic clocks downstream in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue lose sync.
2. UVA (~45–90 minutes after sunrise - depending on your location)
Stimulates nitric oxide (NO) release from skin, which improves blood flow and insulin sensitivity.
Enhances mitochondrial biogenesis through mild hormesis.
Increases dopamine, stabilizing appetite and reward signaling.
→ UVA is nature’s metabolic tuning fork - especially critical for fat-adapted individuals.
3. UVB (Midday Window)
Drives vitamin D synthesis, which is crucial for insulin receptor sensitivity and glucose control.
Promotes deeper mitochondrial signaling via redox changes.
Triggers controlled oxidative stress that enhances metabolic resilience.
→ But without proper morning light exposure first, UVB is more likely to be inflammatory instead of beneficial.
4. Sunset (Red-Infrared Dominant)
Balances morning cortisol with evening melatonin precursors like serotonin.
Recalibrates leptin signaling by closing the circadian loop.
Enhances mitochondrial repair via cytochrome c oxidase stimulation (especially with infrared wavelengths).
→ Missing sunset light skews leptin timing and may increase nighttime cravings, insulin resistance, and disrupted sleep.
The Big Picture:
Your metabolism doesn’t ONLY respond to what you eat.
It responds to when and under what light you eat, and this is true for clients with pre diabetes, PCOS, weight loss resistance, and even high-performing athletes.
Ready to Use This With Your Clients or just dive deeper yourself?
The Leptin Master Plan is my practitioner-level roadmap that teaches you how to implement this entire circadian-metabolic strategy with precision.
You’ll learn:
How to assess circadian mismatch in metabolically “stuck” clients
Why standard nutrition fails without light-based signaling
How to rebuild leptin sensitivity from the top down
Protocols for meal timing, sun timing, and environmental inputs
Common labs & symptoms to check
How to design a leptin reset & "light diet" for yourself or your clients
Get 6 zooms with me (and the group) to ask questions starting August 22nd
