Sleep Habits Linked to Diabetes
How much sleep do you need each night? Do you not
get enough sleep? Do you get too much? Your sleep habits have been
proven to contribute developing Type 2 diabetes. A research done by
the Yale School of Medicine studied over 1709 men who were between
the ages of 40 to 70 years old.
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This research spanned 15 years and included health
questionnaires, blood samples, and home visits.
It was found that six to eight hours of sleep
proved to be the healthiest. If men reported sleeping less
than six hours a night or more than eight hours, they were
three times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Other
researchers have proven the same statistics hold true for
women as well as men.
These statistics remained high even after
considering age, high blood pressure, smoking, and how aware
they were of health issues.
Too much or too little sleep can create
hormone imbalances and metabolic changes. A decrease in
tolerance for carbohydrates, and insulin resistance that
leads to lower levels of leptin and increases the chances
for becoming obese. |
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Those workers that have had to work a “swing”
shift on their job are prime examples for sleep problems, and
other metabolic problems including high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, obesity, and an increased risk of heart disease,
diabetes, and stroke.
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Sleep is as important to your body as
food and water. Many of the adults in this country are
not getting the right amount of sleep to keep their
bodies healthy. Pressures and stresses from working too
many hours, trying to be a good parent or spouse, and
the wish to “play” more is taking away the time we would
normally be sleeping. Sleep deprivation is growing in
our nation and the industrialized world. By not
sleeping enough hours, they are opening themselves open
for other diseases, including diabetes and eventually
even to death.
Studies also show that if you are not
getting enough sleep it could lead to the inability to
curb your own appetite. It also makes a significant
difference in your sensitivity to insulin. People who
received less than the recommended hours of sleep showed
an increased risk of obesity, which also will lead to
diabetes. |
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Workers in the United States are sleeping less
than anyone else in the industrialized world. That is when the
statistics show we are also the least healthy and more
overweight than anyone else.
Can improving your sleep habits also help improve
your glucose tolerance? Studies show that people who increase
their sleeping hours show an impressive improvement in their
glucose tolerance tests.
If you know you are already at risk for
developing diabetes, make sure you are getting at least seven
hours of sleep each night. Sleep at regular times if possible,
and don’t try to make up for lack of sleep the night before.
Truth is, you can’t regain those lost hours. You will reduce
your risk of diabetes and improve your over-all health.
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