Sleep Deprivation Of Just 6 Hours Increases Diabetes Risk

Sleep loss of as short as six hours increases the risk of  incurring diabetes, a new study reports. Researchers at Toho Medical School in Japan found that even a short period of deprivation increases insulin sensitivity.

This type of deprivation is a major concern in the United States.Excessive screen time, artificial lighting, busy schedules and jobs are contributing factors. Indeed,  according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 3 people in the United States do not get the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night.These statistics increase when you add senior citizens whose sleep is adversely affected by chronic disease.

 

 

 

Sleep: Short Term Deprivation

Previous studies showed deprived people eat more, exercise less, and put on excess weight. This increases the risk of diabetes.

In this study, researchers tested measured glucose levels and fat content in the liver. They found elevated blood glucose in the liver of sleep-deprived rats. These changes were significant after just one 6-hour period of sleep deprivation.

They also measured triglyceride levels in the liver because increased production is linked to increases in insulin resistance.  Here too, sleep-deprived rats, showed elevated triglyceride levels.

 

The authors conclude that sleep deprivation is a risk factor for diabetes, regardless of changes in activity and diet. If this is the case, and further studies back up the findings, ensuring that people with increased diabetes risk have a good sleep routine could be vital.