Even one sleepless night can make our body cells resistant to insulin and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, warn Dutch scientists in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
In recent years, the average length of sleep has gradually decreased, especially in Western countries. At the same time, the problem of insulin resistance and the incidence of type 2 diabetes are growing steadily, says Dr. Esther Donga of Leiden University Medical Center, author of the study, adding that this is not a random coincidence. The results of our research show that too little sleep has a significant impact on metabolism, he explains.
Previous studies have shown that long-term sleep deprivation can cause disturbances in glucose tolerance, and now scientists have set out to investigate the effect of just one insufficiently slept night on cell sensitivity to insulin.
Nine healthy volunteers took part in the study. They were tested with a special test which consisted of injecting insulin and glucose into the bloodstream after a night of normal 9 hours of sleep and after a night of only 8 hours of sleep.
It turned out that in healthy people insulin sensitivity is not a constant parameter and even one sleepless night can lower it. As Dr. Donga points out, further detailed research is needed – perhaps extending the sleep period in people with diabetes will improve and help stabilize the blood glucose level of patients. (PAP)