Lack of sleep increases risk of diabetes, says study
Posted on: 07/Nov/2015 10:21:03 AM
A study published in the journal Current Biology has claimed that diabetes risk increases with lack of sleep. When the body lacks sleep, it reduces sensitivity to insulin and the ability to regulate blood sugar. There have been studies linking lack of sleep to disorders like obesity, metabolic syndrome, mood disorders and cognitive impairment. The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US.
16 healthy men and women participated in the study. Half of them slept upto 5 hours a night for five days, and followed a simulated regular work week. After that, they slept for up to 9 hours for 5 days. The other half off the participants did the similar tasks but in the opposite order. Blood tests were taken between tasks for all participants.
The researchers said, We found that when people get too little sleep it leaves them awake at a time when their body clock is telling them they should be asleep. And when they eat something in the morning, it impairs their ability to regulate their blood sugar levels... We did a study last year showing weight gain is caused by a lack of sleep and now we find that there could also be a risk of diabetes, said Eckel. While the exact mechanisms are unknown, it`s clear that a lack of sleep causes metabolic stress. We have a clock in our brain which controls 24-hour patterns in our physiology and behaviour. It also controls the release of the hormone melatonin which signals our body that it`s night time... But if a person eats instead of sleeps during this time (the night), it may alter the way the body responds to the food, impairing insulin sensitivity. The body has to release more insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. Our bodies can adapt initially but over the long term they may not be able to sustain it.
