Skipping Out on Zzz's May Increase Risk of Diabetes

Growing evidence suggests that putting off sleep could suffer long-lasting health consequences.

Experts have linked sleep deprivation with an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems. Established research shows that individuals who regularly get less than five hours of shut-eye a night have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine followed 21 volunteers over six weeks of sleep deprivation. The body’s adaptation to a lack of sleep was startling to researchers, who found increased blood sugar levels after meals and decreased metabolic rates.

The National Institutes of Health recommend between 7-9 hours of sleep a night for adults, but up to 70 million Americans are estimated to suffer from chronic problems with sleep, from insomnia to sleep apnea. Impaired sleep has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, memory impairment and a weakened immune system.

Diet and physical activity are big factors in Type 2 diabetes. We don’t need research to tell us that it’s harder to get to the gym or fix a healthy meal if your body is fatigued from a lack of sleep.

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