New research suggests getting inconsistent amounts of sleep could be linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes
A 7-year research study indicates that irregular sleep patterns are directly tied to the development of diabetes. Read on to learn more.
Science has known for some time that sleep and diabetes are connected. For those living with the disease, a lack of sleep can increase glucose intolerance, which impacts blood sugar levels and makes it harder to manage diabetes effectively.
We also know that about half of all people with Type 2 diabetes have sleep problems due to unstable blood sugar levels. When blood sugar is too high, it can cause a person to get up and urinate during the night, disrupting otherwise healthy sleep patterns. If blood glucose levels dip too low during the night, it can lead to sweating, nightmares, and other disturbances that rob you of those needed hours of sleep.
But what about the onset of Type 2 diabetes? Can sleep increase a person’s risk of developing the disease? A new study published on July 17, 2024, in Diabetes Care, a publication of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), indicates that poor sleep patterns can contribute to a Type of diabetes diagnosis.
New Sleep Study Sheds Light On Diabetes Development
Researchers studied nearly 85,000 adults who did not have diabetes. Their sleep patterns were obtained using an “accelerometer” over seven days. These participants were tracked over 7.5 years, and the findings were significant.
The participants who had a variation of 30 minutes or less each night showed a much lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than their counterparts who experienced more significant fluctuations in sleep duration, with some sleeping more than 91 minutes more or less depending on the night.
A total of 2,058 subjects developed Type 2 diabetes, and those with a sleep duration that varied more than 60 minutes over different nights showed a greater chance of developing diabetes. Results suggested that more consistent sleep patterns might have prevented 8.3% of the diagnosed diabetes cases.
In a nutshell, the study showed that adults who experience a sleep duration standard deviation of more than 1 hour between nights have a 34% greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This risk increased further among participants who started with a lower genetic risk for diabetes.
“Our study found that people with irregular sleep duration faced a 34% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with consistent sleep durations,” said Sina Kianersi, PhD, DVM, and a research fellow cited in an article about the new findings posted on healio.com. “This increased risk remained significant even after considering factors like lifestyle habits, other health conditions, family history of diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, the association between irregular sleep and diabetes risk was observed regardless of a person’s genetic likelihood of developing diabetes,” Dr. Kianersi added.
What Does This Mean For Diabetes Prevention?
People at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes typically have a lifestyle pattern that is consistent with the onset of the disease. Factors like weight, diet, and physical activity all play a role in increasing Type 2 diabetes risk, and lifestyle changes that positively impact these factors play critical roles in reducing a person’s risk for diabetes. For years, physicians have been focusing on these lifestyle changes to help prevent and manage Type 2 diabetes.
This new research suggests that examining sleep patterns – both for quantity and consistency – might be another variable physicians should consider when developing diabetes prevention and management strategies for their patients. This study shows a clear correlation between irregular sleep and the onset of Type 2 diabetes. It’s a logical assumption that disruptive sleep patterns would also inhibit effective diabetes management once a person is diagnosed with the disease.
Takeaways
A lack of quality sleep has long been linked to inconsistent blood sugar levels among people living with diabetes. Now, there is evidence that irregular sleep patterns – getting inconsistent amounts of sleep from one night to the next – may contribute to the onset of Type 2 diabetes. While further research needs to be done before we completely understand the relationship between sleep and diabetes, there is little doubt that consistent durations of sleep can help lower the risk of developing the disease and, likely, improve the management of Type 2 diabetes once a person has been diagnosed.
FAQs
How does sleep impact blood sugar?
A lack of sleep can disrupt a person’s circadian rhythm, reducing insulin sensitivity and the body’s ability to transform blood sugar into the energy it needs to function correctly. Additionally, those who do not sleep well can find their eating habits change, sometimes succumbing to late-night snacking that can further elevate blood sugar.
What are irregular sleeping patterns?
Individuals who get about the same hours of sleep each night are described as having consistent sleep patterns. People who vary in the amount of sleep they get night after night are said to have irregular sleeping patterns. These irregular patterns have been shown to elevate the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Does sleep impact diabetes management?
Yes. Poor sleeping habits can cause blood sugar to fluctuate more than expected, which can make managing diabetes increasingly tricky. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can make the body more resistant to insulin and impact the production of other hormones that affect blood sugar. Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night to avoid becoming sleep-deprived.
Do you have any personal insights on diabetes and sleep you’d like to share with our readers? Please do so in the comment section below. Thanks, and stay healthy!
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