You are here: Home > Diet & Health

Sleep slashes diabetes risk

Pamela Allardice
Monday, February 16, 2009

The two best-known risk factors for type 2 diabetes are a lack of physical activity and overindulgence in refined and processed foods.

Now, according to a study published in the journal Sleep, it appears getting a good night’s rest also protects against diabetes. The study, authored by James Gangswich, PhD, of Columbia University in New York, found that adults who snoozed five hours or less a night were significantly more likely to develop type II diabetes than those who slept for seven hours. Why? Sleep deprivation’s potential to increase body weight increases diabetes incidence, says Gangswich, and so does late-night snacking. There’s also evidence that inadequate sleep decreases glucose tolerance and utilisation, and ramps up nervous system activity and the production of the stress hormone cortisol – in other words, the longer we stay up, the less efficient our bodies become at processing blood sugar fat.

Your Say: Do you get enough sleep? What are your tips for a restful night? Tell us below...


Also in this section

Recipe Search

Tip: Try "lamb & potato" or "Low GI"
advertisement
Features
Pictures
Video
How your place in the family rules your lifeFirst-born? Piggy in the middle? Or always the baby? Clinical psychologist Linda Blair reveals how birth order in the family can affect every aspect of your life. Multi-vitamins can make you smarterMany people consider vitamin supplements a waste of money, but a new study has found they can actually make you smarter. My wonderful daughter Emily SeebohmEmily Seebohm is one of Australia's most promising Olympic medal prospects, but she'll always be a little girl to her mum Karen. Here, Karen shares her favourite pictures of her superstar daughter. Juggling can grow brain by five percentJuggling might seem like something best left to professional clowns, but a new study has found it can increase the size of your brain. Natural help for hivesMy doctor prescribes antihistamines for my hives. What else can I do?
ww |

inspire me

My wonderful daughter Emily Seebohm

My wonderful daughter Emily SeebohmEmily Seebohm is one of Australia's most promising Olympic medal prospects, but...More >

My wonderful daughter Emily Seebohm

My wonderful daughter Emily SeebohmEmily Seebohm is one of Australia's most promising Olympic medal prospects, but...More >

Photo galleries

Desserts to impressDesserts to impress The best Italian recipesThe best Italian recipes

Weekly newsletter

Recipes in your inboxWe send you the latest recipes from the Weekly plus all the week's best bits to your inbox.
Sign up now >
ww |

topics

Handy hints(740)/ Expert advice(530)/ natural health(436)/ Books(426)/ diet(348)/ Recipes(287)/ Food(267)/ Health(252)/ Gardening(219)/ Craft(164)/ Royals(160)

Also on Ninemsn