It is often difficult to determine exactly how much sleep we should get. Experts say that most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per nightbut the exact amount depends on age and individual needs. Scientists now point out that sleeping less than seven hours can increase the risk of type 2 diabeteswhich is often referred to as a silent killer, the portal reported.
Chinese researchers followed more than 23,000 US adults and found that the optimal amount of sleep to reduce the risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, is seven hours and 19 minutes per night. At the same time, they pointed out that sleeping too long on the weekends may not compensate for the lack of sleep from the work week.
The researchers emphasized that their findings remind the importance of regular and sufficient sleep for health. However, some experts pointed out that since it is an observational study, its results should be interpreted with some caution.
Previous research has already linked lack of sleep to a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke. In this study, the researchers evaluated the so-called estimated body glucose utilization rate (eGDR), which serves as an indicator of insulin resistance. The lower the eGDR value, the higher the risk of insulin resistance.
Research participants reported that they sleep an average of seven and a half hours during the work week. Almost half of themapproximately 48 percent, si she caught up on sleep during the weekends. The researchers found that sleeping both shorter and longer than the optimal time had a negative effect on the eGDR value.
Further analysis showed that a little catching up on the weekend can be beneficialespecially for people who have a sleep deficit during the week. However, if people who already get enough sleep during weekdays sleep more than two hours more on the weekend, this may be associated with a higher risk of insulin resistance.
The authors of the study therefore stated that weekend catching up on sleep is beneficial only in moderation and especially for people with a sleep deficit during the week, while those who already get enough sleep can be harmful, they said.
“There is a lot of evidence that getting less sleep, usually less than seven hours a night, is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” said Professor Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow, who was not involved in the study. “Lack of sleep disrupts appetite and can affect hormones that regulate blood sugar,” he said.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work properly. Long-term elevated blood sugar can lead to heart attack, stroke and damage to the eyes, kidneys or feet.
