Unhealthy sleep patterns linked to type 2 diabetes

Tuesday, 20 September 2011 16:00

News - Employee Wellness

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Type 2 diabetes is an incurable condition that comes with high healthcare costs due to a need for regular management, including insulin shots, blood glucose measurements and regular exams to stave off comorbidities. This, combined with the growing prevalence of the blood sugar disorder, means that prevention efforts are of utmost importance.

Researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia conducted a study which adds further support to the idea that excessive or inadequate sleep can have a detrimental effect on the body's ability to secrete insulin.

In a trial involving 62 obese teenagers, study authors found that volunteers who slept too much or too little had higher levels of blood glucose.

"Our study found to keep glucose levels stable, the optimal amount of sleep for teenagers is 7.5 to 8.5 hours per night," said researcher Dorit Koren, M.D.

While this study focused on teenagers, the authors noted that their findings are similar to those observed in adult studies.

This suggests that employee wellness programs that provide tips and tools for healthy living - including stress reduction and achieving adequate sleep - may result in a lower prevalence of chronic illnesses among staff members.