Sleep Deprivation Can Lead To Prediabetes

Filed in archive Research on March 13, 2009

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 7990274

According to a new study, people who Sleep less than 6 hours are more likely to develop impaired fasting blood glucose - a condition called prediabetes which can go on to type 2 diabetes.

The study examined the health records of nearly 1,500 participants in the Western New York Health Study. Researchers identified 91 participants who had fasting blood glucose levels of less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) during baseline exams between 1996 and 2001; the participants had higher blood fasting glucose levels - between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL - at follow-up exams in 2003-2004.

Those 91 participants were compared with 273 people who had blood glucose levels of less than 100 mg/dL both at baseline and follow-up. Researchers matched the groups according to gender, race/ethnicity, and year of study enrollment.

There goes another good reason why we should all get a good night's sleep.