Get Some Sleep (But Not Too Much!)

Learn how sleep affects your risk of developing diabetes

If you sleep too much—or too little—you may want to see your doctor. You could be at higher risk for diabetes. A recent study found that men who slept more than eight hours a night or between five and six hours each night were more likely to develop diabetes than were men who slept between seven and eight hours each night.

“Sleeping more than eight hours a night could be a sign that you have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea,” says pulmonologist Richard Strobel, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Sleep apnea occurs when your air flow is blocked periodically throughout the night, causing fragmented, non-restful sleep. “Sleeping longer could be your body’s way of trying to compensate for the restful sleep you’re losing,” he says. “Sleep apnea is linked to abnormal blood glucose metabolism and heart disease, which are common problems among people with diabetes.” (If you already have diabetes and aren’t getting a good night’s sleep, your blood sugar may be harder to control.)

On the other side, too-little sleep may cause spikes in the appetite-boosting hormone grehlin (GRELL-in). The bigger your appetite, the more likely you are to gain weight, which puts you at higher risk for developing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. “We need more research in this area, but the reason could be that hormonal changes occur with less sleep and actually make you hungrier when you’re awake,” Strobel says.

“Along with obesity, getting little sleep is a health epidemic,” Strobel says. “People are sleeping fewer hours each night than they did years ago.”

If you have trouble sleeping, talk with your doctor about your sleep. He may refer you to a sleep specialist or directly to the Sleep Disorders Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Sleep Disorders Center Doctors at our Sleep Disorders Center use the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat your problem so you get a good night’s sleep More >>

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