Sleeping less than 5 hours a day significantly increases the risk of diabetes • Earth.com

In the hectic pace of modern life, sleep often takes a back seat, especially given the demands of parenting, career and daily stress. Yet the importance of adequate sleep cannot be overstated, recently linked to chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes.

A worrying study conducted by researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, and published in Open JAMA Networkhighlights the critical relationship between sleep duration and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, emphasizing that a healthy diet alone may not be enough to mitigate this risk.

Importance of sleep and in the prevention of diabetes

Christian Benedict is an associate professor and sleep researcher at the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences at Uppsala University who led the study. He candidly shares his views on the importance of sleep.

“I generally recommend prioritizing sleep, although I understand that’s not always possible, especially as a parent of four teenagers,” Benedict said.

The study looks at the effects of lack of sleep on the body’s ability to process sugar, a key factor in type 2 diabetes. This condition impedes the absorption of insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. blood sugar and can potentially cause serious damage to nerves and blood vessels over time.

Short sleep directly linked to type 2 diabetes

With more than 462 million people affected worldwide, as reported in 2020, the urgency to address this growing public health problem is palpable.

Diana Noga, a sleep researcher at Uppsala University, emphasizes the novelty of their findings. “Previous research has shown that repeated short daily rest increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, while healthy eating habits, such as regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, can reduce the risk,” explained Noga.

“However, it is still unclear whether people who get too little sleep can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by eating healthily,” she concluded.

This uncertainty led the research team to investigate further using data from the UK Biobank, one of the largest population databases in the world.

Analyzing the health and lifestyle responses of nearly half a million British participants over a decade, researchers found a compelling association: people who slept between three and five hours a night experienced a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Sleep quality and eating habits

Interestingly, although a healthy diet was correlated with a lower risk of contracting the disease, those who maintained good eating habits but slept less than six hours were still at increased risk.

“Our results are the first to question whether a healthy diet can compensate for lack of sleep in terms of type 2 diabetes risk,” Benedict explained. “They should not cause concern, but rather be seen as a reminder that sleep plays an important role in health.”

He also notes that the impact of sleep deprivation can vary widely among individuals, influenced by genetics and each person’s unique sleep needs.

Prioritize healthy habits and sleep regimens

In summary, this important study from Uppsala University unequivocally demonstrates the critical link between sleep deprivation and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, challenging the idea that a healthy diet alone can compensate. the negative effects of insufficient sleep.

This research highlights the importance of prioritizing adequate sleep as an essential part of a holistic approach to health and diabetes prevention. By recognizing the varied impacts of sleep deprivation on individuals, the team also highlights the need for personalized health strategies that take into account both genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors.

Ultimately, this study serves as a compelling reminder of the indispensable role sleep plays in maintaining overall health and well-being, prompting individuals to re-evaluate and elevate the priority they place on sleep in their everyday life.

The full study was published in the journal Open JAMA Network.

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