Sleeping for just 3-5 hours daily may increase type 2 diabetes risk: Study

People who sleep for only three to five hours daily may be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study.

The research, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, also shows that chronic sleep deprivation cannot be compensated by healthy eating alone.

“I generally recommend prioritising sleep, although I understand it’s not always possible, especially as a parent of four teenagers,” said Christian Benedict, Associate Professor at Uppsala University and lead researcher behind the study.

The team examined the link between type 2 diabetes and sleep deprivation. Type 2 diabetes affects the body’s ability to process sugar (glucose), hindering insulin absorption and resulting in high blood sugar levels.

A 2020 study showed that over 462 million people suffer from this disease. Over time, it can cause serious damage, particularly to nerves and blood vessels, and thus represents an escalating public health problem globally.

“Previous research has shown that repeated short daily rest increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, while healthy dietary habits such as regularly eating fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk,” said Diana Noga, a sleep researcher at the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences at Uppsala University.

“However, it has remained unclear whether people who sleep too little can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by eating healthily,” Noga said in a statement.