A new study from the Netherlands, published in the journal Sleep Health, has found a U-shaped correlation between sleep duration and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of other lifestyle factors.
This means that both too little and too much sleep could increase the risk.
The research team analyzed data from the Maastricht Study, a larger project aimed at understanding cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
The study involved data from 5,561 volunteers aged between 40 and 75 years. Researchers examined details about sleep habits, focusing on the average number of hours participants slept.
This data was collected through questionnaires and accelerometers attached to participants’ thighs.
Regular glucose tolerance tests were also administered to classify individuals as nondiabetic, prediabetic, or diabetic (type 1 diabetics were excluded).
This larger study, conducted between 2010 and 2018, involved 10,000 volunteers and aimed to explore the reasons why certain individuals develop specific diseases while others do not.
Researchers affiliated with multiple Dutch institutions spearheaded the Maastricht Study, from which the sleep duration data was extracted.
After conducting regression analysis, the researchers found that individuals who regularly slept far more (12 hours) or far less (five hours) than the normal sleep duration had a slightly elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes, irrespective of other lifestyle risk factors.
This suggests that sleep could be an independent factor in type 2 diabetes risk, which may require healthcare professionals to consider sleep habits when assessing patient risk for the condition.
What this Means for Healthcare
The findings may help medical professionals better understand the relationship between sleep and chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
The U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and diabetes risk suggests that both over-sleeping and sleep deprivation could potentially be targeted as areas for intervention in diabetes prevention strategies.
It may also encourage further research to investigate the underlying mechanisms linking sleep and type 2 diabetes, potentially opening doors for new treatment and prevention options.
Conclusion
This new research adds a layer of understanding to the complex factors affecting type 2 diabetes risk.
It highlights the need to consider sleep duration as an independent risk factor, which could lead to more effective preventive measures.
The study also underscores the need for a balanced approach to sleep, as both extremes appear to carry risks.
If you care about sleep, please read studies about the science on 3 traditional bedtime remedies, and this sleep supplement may help prevent memory loss and cognitive decline.
For more information about sleep, please see recent studies about how to sleep to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, and results showing scientists find silent sleep danger for smokers.
The study was published in Sleep Health.
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