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- Feb 12, 2007
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Lack of sleep increases diabetes risk.
New medical research has suggested that sleeping fewer than six hours a night could increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
According to the study, people who sleep an average of six hours a night or less are more than four times likely to develop impaired fasting glucose when compared to those who enjoy six to eight hours a night.
"This study supports growing evidence of the association of inadequate sleep with adverse health issues," said Lisa Rafalson, research assistant professor at the University at Buffalo in New York and lead author of the study.
"While previous studies have suggested there may be genes that have a small effect on the risk of diabetes, there is no known genetic predisposition to sleep disturbances that could explain our study's results," she added.
Rafalson pointed out that it is more likely that pathways involving hormones and the nervous system are involved.
Impaired fasting glucose is a condition that can lead to Type 2 diabetes if sufferers are not careful with their diet and lifestyles.
Researchers suggest that sleeping an average of seven hours is the healthiest amount of sleep.
The six-year study was presented at an American Heart Association conference.
