You’re well aware that lack of sleep can leave you feeling groggy and grumpy, but you may be surprised to learn that it can also affect insulin sensitivity. Here, you’ll find easy ways to ensure you get the Zzz’s you need while also warding off diabetes and improving your long-term health.
Understanding how lack of sleep contributes to diabetes risk
With your hectic schedule, a good night’s sleep is something you crave. A recent study in Diabetes Care highlights the value of this elusive slumber, revealing that it doesn’t just enhance your mood and boost your energy levels — it also plays a crucial role in reducing your risk of diabetes.
“Women in the study who experienced just 1.5 hours less sleep per night over a span of six weeks exhibited higher fasting insulin levels and greater insulin resistance,” discloses lead study author Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, director of the CUIMC Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research at Columbia University. She elaborates that insufficient sleep leads to increased inflammation and oxidative stress, consequently resulting in heightened insulin resistance.
While pre-menopausal women experienced a 15% increase in insulin resistance, the study findings were more pronounced among post-menopausal women, who witnessed an increase of over 20%. Although St. Onge is uncertain about the exact cause of this disparity, she suspects that post-menopausal women, lacking the protective effects of estrogen that help regulate blood sugar, may be more vulnerable to the impacts of even slight sleep deprivation.
Medical experts suggest some basic lifestyle changes that can help in sleeping, getting quality sleep and sleeping at the right time for the required rest time. Sleep is the state of our body that relaxes our parts, relieves stress and fatigue, helps in proper digestion and healing process too.
Good sleep supports in healthy skin, hair, and fresh mindset to go for the whole day. Sleep in our body need and should be considered as a ‘boring chore’. Good timely and sufficient sleep maintains good health and adds more years to life.
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