Inconsistent Sleep Patterns Linked to Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study

Regular sleep could play a crucial role in preventing type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The study highlighted that individuals with irregular sleep patterns have a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with more consistent sleep schedules.

The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care.

The research team monitored sleep patterns for seven nights and subsequently tracked the health of participants for more than seven years. Their findings revealed that those with the most irregular sleep durations had a 34% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to their counterparts who maintained consistent sleep schedules.

Type 2 diabetes is a major global health concern, affecting nearly half a billion people worldwide. It ranks among the top 10 leading causes of death and disability, with projections indicating that the number of affected individuals will more than double to 1.3 billion by 2050.

To explore the potential link between sleep and type 2 diabetes, the researchers analysed accelerometry data from over 84,000 participants in the UK Biobank Study. The participants, who had an average age of 62 years and were initially free of diabetes, wore accelerometers — devices akin to watches that monitor movement — for seven nights. Their health was then tracked for approximately 7.5 years, primarily through medical records.

The study found a strong association between irregular sleep duration and increased diabetes risk. Irregular sleep was defined as a variation in day-to-day sleep duration by more than 60 minutes on average. Even after adjusting for various risk factors such as lifestyle, comorbidities, family history of diabetes, and obesity indicators, the data showed that participants with irregular sleep had a 34% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with regular sleep patterns.

“Our study identified a modifiable lifestyle factor that can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our findings underscore the importance of consistent sleep patterns as a strategy to reduce type 2 diabetes,” said Sina Kianersi, a research fellow in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at the Brigham.

Reference: Sina Kianersi, Heming Wang, Tamar Sofer, Raymond Noordam, Andrew Phillips, Martin K. Rutter, Susan Redline, Tianyi Huang; Association Between Accelerometer-Measured Irregular Sleep Duration and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study in the UK Biobank. Diabetes Care 2024; dc240213. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc24-0213