The Impact of Sleep on Diabetes Risk: Insights from Recent Research
Recent research reveals that getting less than six hours of sleep per night may increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Discover how your sleep habits could affect your risk for diabetes.
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Did you know that getting only a few hours of sleep each night could increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes? A recent study has discovered that lack of sleep may have more serious consequences than just feeling tired at work.
People who sleep less than six hours daily have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life compared to those who get seven to eight hours of sleep per day. This finding was reported in a study published Tuesday in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Dr. Diana Nôga, the first author of the study and a sleep researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden, mentioned in a news release that previous research has shown that not getting enough rest on a daily basis increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, maintaining healthy dietary habits such as regularly eating fruits and vegetables can help reduce this risk.
Sleep is an important lifestyle factor in reducing risk for type 2 diabetes, a new study has found.
Sleep is an important lifestyle factor in reducing risk for type 2 diabetes, a new study has found.
Nôga mentioned that it is still uncertain whether individuals who do not get enough sleep can lower their chances of getting type 2 diabetes by maintaining a healthy diet. The authors of the study claim to be the first to explore this particular question.
The study looked at nearly 247,900 participants from the UK Biobank study, which tracks the health of over half a million people aged 40 to 69 in the United Kingdom for at least a decade. Participants initially shared information about their eating habits and daily sleep duration, including naps.
To meet the standards of a healthy diet, individuals needed to consume two or more fruits each day, have at least two servings of fish weekly, or eat 4 or more tablespoons of vegetables daily.
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Reading book and using flashlight. Young boy in casual clothes lying down near tent at evening time.
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The guidelines also outlined the importance of limiting red meat consumption to no more than two servings per week, whether it's processed or unprocessed. This means that even if you have one serving of each type of red meat in a week, you can still maintain a healthy diet. Each positive dietary habit earned one point, so your overall score could range from zero (least healthy) to five (most healthy).
Sleeping seven to eight hours daily is considered normal, while six hours is classified as short, five hours as moderate, and three to four hours as "extreme short."
By the end of the follow-up period, which lasted an average of 12.5 years, 7,905 participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Those who slept less than six hours each night were almost twice as likely to develop the disease compared to those who slept a normal amount. There was no significant difference in diabetes risk between those with normal sleep and those who slept six hours. Even individuals with the healthiest diet did not counteract the negative effects of insufficient sleep on diabetes risk.
Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN wellness contributor and expert in health policy, emphasized that genetics are not the only factor in chronic diseases like diabetes. Lifestyle choices also play a significant role in the development of these conditions. Dr. Wen, who is an emergency physician and professor at George Washington University, shared this insight in an email about a recent study. She was not directly involved in the research.
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Wen emphasized that while many focus on factors like diet and exercise, the study highlights the crucial role of sleep in preventing chronic diseases. In fact, the importance of sleep in reducing the risk of diabetes is underscored by the research findings.
The findings of the study confirm a connection between poor sleep and diabetes, but not a direct cause-and-effect relationship, according to Dr. Naveed Sattar, a professor at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
The study also relies on participants' memories of their eating and sleeping routines. To establish a causal link, "randomized trials would need to be conducted to change sleeping habits and observe if this decreases diabetes risk in individuals with pre-diabetes," Sattar explained.
Sattar added that there is plenty of evidence showing that not getting enough sleep can affect how hungry you feel and may cause you to eat more calories, which could be high in density.
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Sleep has also been linked to the function of glucose metabolism, Wen said, which is involved in the cause of type 2 diabetes.
Establishing a consistent sleep schedule and creating a relaxing sleep environment can help improve your quality of rest. This includes setting regular sleep and wake times and ensuring your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet.
To prepare your mind and body for sleep, try incorporating a calming bedtime routine. This could involve reading a book, taking a warm bath, or engaging in other relaxing activities instead of using electronic devices or consuming caffeine.
Avoiding caffeine at least six hours before bedtime and refraining from alcohol consumption before bed can also contribute to a better night's sleep. While alcohol may initially help you fall asleep, it can disrupt your sleep cycle and prevent you from reaching deeper stages of rest.
Editor's P/S:
This article provides valuable insights into the relationship between sleep and type 2 diabetes risk. The study's findings suggest that getting less than six hours of sleep per night can significantly increase the chances of developing diabetes later in life. It highlights the importance of prioritizing sleep as a crucial lifestyle factor in reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
The article also emphasizes the need for further research to establish a causal link between sleep deprivation and diabetes. Randomized trials could help determine whether improving sleep habits can effectively lower diabetes risk in individuals with pre-diabetes. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the sleep-diabetes connection can lead to more targeted interventions and strategies for disease prevention.
