Not Enough Sleep Is Major Link To Diabetes

People who do not get enough sleep on a regular basis may become less sensitive to insulin which, over time, can raise the risk of

• obesity
• high blood pressure
• diabetes

Dr. Eve Van Cauter at the University of Chicago found that chronic sleep deprivation -- 6.5 hours or less of sleep a night -- had the same effect on insulin resistance as aging.

Just like poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, chronic stress and aging, sleep loss is a risk factor (for type 2 diabetes).

As we all know by now, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body loses its ability to respond to insulin, the body's key blood sugar-regulating hormone. For those of you new to Diabetes, this insulin resistance causes blood sugar levels to rise, which in turn can increase the risk for a number of serious medical complications including kidney damage, heart disease, blindness and lower limb amputations.

According to Cauter's Study said...

healthy adults who averaged 316 minutes of sleep a night -- about 5.2 hours .... over 8 consecutive nights secreted 50% more insulin than their more rested counterparts who averaged 477 minutes of sleep a night, or about 8 hours.

As a result, "short sleepers'' were 40% less sensitive to insulin.

The researchers suggest that sleep deprivation, which is becoming commonplace in industrialized countries, may play a role in the current epidemic of type 2 diabetes.

I'm sure in my case this was a major factor in contracting type 2 Diabetes as I worked 2 years surviving on only about 4-5 hours sleep a night.

 Warren

Just think of all those poor people who are missing out on all these great infomercials!

If I had any money I would have a dozen cookers, 8 sets of never dull knifes, have millions coming in from all the government free money, made a million a day on ebay  , own half of the US with no money down, and have killer abs, rock hard buns, solid glutes in only 20 minutes!!! WOO HOO!!!

Whoa!  Now that is interesting.  I spent more than 15 years in the IT industry, most of it doing shift-work and not really getting enough sleep.  I am a night-owl, so early morning (5am etc.) starts were killing me.  Now I know that they are killing me.  Shift (that's the second time I've typed that word and both times I subconsciously missed out the 'f') work is a known life-shortener.  Add a diet high in KFC, Burger King and a certain product from Atlanta and bingo, type 2.  Simple really.  Having a pre-disposition probably didn't help, either. 

Warren -- interesting article.  I too have sleep problems, and have for the past 5 years or so.  I blamed the job stress, horrid boss, etc.  I was diagnosed T2 a couple of years back.  I retired last year and the sleep problems did not go away.  Anyway....

My dr. prescribed quinine sulfate (35mg) twice a day for leg cramps.  He said to take it for a week or so, then I could just take it when cramps started again.  It works like magic on the cramps -- haven't had them since.  He (aged 70 something) said the young docs don't know about this remedy!

I've discovered if I take one capsule at bedtime I sleep the entire night, waking at 6 or so, feeling refreshed.  This weekend I didn't take it for a couple of nights just to see what happened -- wide awake at 2:30 and unable to get back to sleep until the sun was rising.  I'm going to continue to take it at night!!

 

Hope it works as well for you as it did for me -- I was also having to hop out of bed to stretch the muscles --  a miserable task in the middle of the night.

Mary and Warren,

Quinine Sulfate has been linked to deaths in individuals (mostly women!) without any warning. Please review this site -> Quinine Sulfate warnings... It has been recalled as an over the counter drug in the U.S.

Just didn't want you to both stop posting because you got rid of your leg cramps permanently!

I'm sorry that I found that out because it looks like I'm raining on your parade, but my hubby has RLS and terrible leg cramps and I was hoping this would be something that would help him, too.