The Link Between Type II Diabetes and Bad Sleep

Lisa Matricciani and colleagues (2022) at the University of South Australia are urging individuals to prioritize getting a good night’s sleep as new research suggests an association between troubled sleep and the presence of risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness influencing how the body processes and regulates blood sugar. The rates of individuals with type 2 diabetes are high, affecting more than 422 million people worldwide. Of those 422 million people, one million adults in Australia have been found to have type 2 diabetes.

In the current study, a group of 1,000 Australian adults with a median age of 44.8 years old were chosen to be studied. Different factors of sleep, such as sleep duration, timing, efficiency, sleep length variability, and self-report trouble sleeping, were assessed to better understand the sleeping habits of the study participants.

The researchers found that participants who reported having bad sleep habits were more likely, on average, to possess indicators of poor cardiometabolic health. These indicators include inflammatory markers, cholesterol, and higher body mass index, all of which have links to type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, the results of this study emphasized that the duration of sleep is not the only important aspect of sleep to consider. When we go to sleep, when we wake up, how regular our sleep habits are, and how soundly we sleep can have just as big of an impact on our health as how long we sleep. Therefore, we must consider and prioritize the quality of all aspects of sleep to help us stay in good health.

References:

Henderson, E. (2022, December 2). Troubled sleep may be linked to risk factors for type 2 diabetes. News Medical. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221202/Troubled-sleep-may-be-linked-to-risk-factors-for-type-2-diabetes.aspx

Matricciani, L., et al. (2022) Multidimensional Sleep and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes: Examining Self-Report and Objective Dimensions of Sleep. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care.doi.org/10.1177/26350106221137896.