Is Your Sleep Deprivation Leading You to Diabetes?

Pop quiz: Which of the following words does not seem to go with the others?

• Obesity
• Calories
• Insulin
• Sleep
• Fat
  

If you said sleep, you're right. Er, you're wrong actually.

While sleep may not seem like it belongs in the same category as words that revolve around weight, it actually has everything to do with weight and whether or not you're at risk for diabetes. Two fascinating studies that just came out to further prove it:

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1.     One study out of a sleep lab at Penn State College showed that insomniacs who slept only five to six hours a night had greater odds of developing diabetes.

2.     The other study, this one from the University of Chicago and published in this month's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, demonstrated that sleep deprivation mixed with sedentary living and free access to food can change the body's physiology to the point it resembles that of a prediabetic. In other words, the body's insulin resistance and glucose tolerance shifts, leaning toward a dangerous condition that's a precursor to full-blown diabetes.

I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty remarkable...and scary. This change in physiology, by the way, in the second study happened over the course of just two weeks as healthy adults were forced to get by on only five hours a night.

None of this was news to me. I've written numerous times about the impact of quality sleep in our ability to lose and maintain a healthy weight, and avoid the ravages of diabetes.

Other studies have also shown what happens when we miss out on sleep. We can't seem to go a day without more news about our diabetes and obesity problem. But I still find that the conversation about this hugely popular topic often gravitates toward access to healthy diet choices, and ways to get more regular physical activity. What about access to more and better sleep?  

Sweet Dreams,

Michael J. Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor™
www.thesleepdoctor.com

This article on diabetes, weight and sleep is also available at Dr. Breus's official blog, The Insomnia Blog.

Follow Dr. Michael J. Breus on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thesleepdoctor

Comments

[Pippen]

Why do so many insurance deny dental work support ? It's way too expensive for the average citizen now and so you see people more and more walking around without teeth.

If dental work is so life threatening why hasn't more been done to ensure patients are covered ?

[nicholasjh1]

My dad has apnea, and in his office (high stress fire dispatching job)(he's retired now) they did a Rotating day, afternoon, midnight shift, over 6 weeks, 2 weeks each. The workers did an in office survey because they suspected something and the incidence in their office of type 2 diabetes is 40%. almost everyone who was overweight/obese had diabetes, and even a few people who were not that overweight. He had to get a letter from his doctor saying it would kill him to stay on midnights. eventually they abandoned the rotating schedule practice. It would be interesting to see how the trending of diabetes is now.

[Dale Larson]

"This change in physiology, by the way, in the second study happened over the course of just two weeks as healthy adults were forced to get by on only five hours a night. "

This is no joke.

I recently went through a sleep study and found out I have obstructive sleep apnea.

I literally haven't had a good night's sleep in 20 years and I wasn't even aware of it. I just started using a CPAP machine and now when I wake up I actually feel like I have energy and a clear mind. A huge change.

It was an eye-opener to me. When you've had a condition like this for so long you have no basis of comparison. I just figured the fatigue etc... was just me.

Listen to the good Doctor. If you're tired during the day, wake up with headaches, etc... You might get back the life you don't know you're missing!

[NoSillyName]

I have chronic insomnia. My blood sugar is fine, but what other tests should my doctor order? Fasting glucose level?

[DrCharlesMartin]

Thanks for helping to educate people that there are many things that can affect the likelihood of developing a chronic disease like diabetes. For people with pre-diabetes or diabetes, getting treatment for gum disease and improving oral health care can also make a real difference. Many people who are diagnosed with diabetes find that getting their gum disease under control helps them better control their diabetes. On my blog at www.dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog, I write extensively about the links between gum disease and diabetes.

Charles Martin, DDS
Founder, Dentistry for Diabetics