Irregular Sleep Patterns May Increase Diabetes Risk, Study Finds

A groundbreaking study recently published in the journal Diabetes Care indicates that irregular sleep patterns are associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially among older adults. This research, which is part of the UK Biobank project, shines a light on the importance of maintaining a regular sleep schedule as a potential approach to diabetes prevention.

The study, led by Sina Kianersi and colleagues, analyzed data from 84,421 participants free of diabetes at their initial assessment. Participants wore wrist-worn accelerometers for seven days to measure their sleep duration variably. Over the course of 7.5 years of follow-up, 2,058 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified.

The findings revealed that individuals with more irregular sleep durations had a higher risk of developing diabetes than those with consistent sleep patterns. The risk was particularly accentuated in individuals with a sleep duration standard deviation (SD) greater than 60 minutes. These associations persisted even after adjusting for a wide range of factors, including age, sex, race, and lifestyle habits.

Interestingly, the study also explored whether genetic susceptibility to diabetes impacted the relationship between sleep irregularity and the disease. Although individuals with a high polygenic risk score (PRS) for diabetes were at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the association with sleep irregularity appeared stronger in those with a lower genetic preposition.

One remarkable aspect of the study was its use of objectively measured sleep data, adding a level of precision often lacking in self-reported sleep measures. This approach ensures more accurate and reliable findings. Additionally, the researchers took into account numerous health and lifestyle details to paint a comprehensive picture of each participant's situation.

However, the study had limitations, including a potential time lag between covariate assessment and sleep measurement for some participants. The majority of the cohort was also predominantly White, which might limit the generalizability of the findings to other racial and ethnic groups.

The implications of this study are crucial for public health. Although genetic factors play a role in the development of diabetes, lifestyle factors such as sleep regularity may offer a modifiable risk factor to prevent the disease. The data suggests that aiming to keep sleep duration variability under 60 minutes could be an effective strategy for diabetes prevention.

For those interested in exploring the full depth of the study, the complete article is available at the Diabetes Care journal website through the following link: http://diabetesjournals.org/care/article-pdf/doi/10.2337/dc24-0213/775352/dc240213.pdf

This study underlines the significant impact of sleep duration variability on type 2 diabetes risk and emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts to promote healthy, regular sleep patterns among the general populace.

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