Source: Fox News
Summary
A Chinese study of 25,000 participants from 2009 to 2023 found that sleeping about seven hours and 18 minutes per night was associated with low insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The study, published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, found that large deviations from this benchmark, either too much or too little sleep, were associated with worse insulin sensitivity. The researchers concluded that sleep patterns, particularly weekend recovery sleep, may be relevant for metabolic regulation in diabetes.
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The advice sounds familiar.
This study is another example of how sleep duration is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes risk. The “sweet spot” of seven hours and 18 minutes of sleep per night is a specific recommendation, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. The study’s findings are observational, and sleep quality, diet, stress, and other lifestyle factors could influence results. The concept of sleeping a certain number of hours to prevent diabetes is “too simplistic,” according to Dr. Aaron Pinkhasov, a board-certified psychiatrist. The study’s message is that sleep should be considered as important as diet and exercise when discussing diabetes risk.
The study’s findings are a reminder that the relationship between sleep and diabetes is complex, and more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
As Dr. Pinkhasov noted, “The key message is not the exact number of hours, but that both chronic sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns are associated with higher insulin resistance.”
The study’s results are just another example of how health guidance can shift and evolve over time.
It’s a reminder that the “optimal” amount of sleep is not a fixed number, but rather a range that can vary from person to person.
The study’s findings are a call to consider sleep as an important factor in overall health, rather than just a nicety.
As the old saying goes, “sleep is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
Author: Evan Null
