Does lack of sleep lead to diabetes?
By Nathan Seppa
One hundred years ago, adults in the United States averaged 9 hours of sleep per night. Today, that average is less than 7 hours. Although researchers have shown that lack of sleep can impair mental function, they have yet to demonstrate any physical consequences of sleep deprivation.
A study from the University of Chicago now suggests the body’s reaction to sleep loss resembles insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to efficiently use this sugar-processing hormone. Insulin resistance results in high blood-glucose concentrations and can lead to type II, or adult-onset, diabetes.