The Link Between a Lack of Sleep and Type 2 Diabetes

Everyone’s family has a specific medical history. It’s different for us all. Included in this background of data and genetics are indicators toward your dietary preferences, how likely it is you’ll weigh a certain amount, and also whether or not you’re at risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes. But sleep patterns can also be something that affects your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Many people, in their rush to worry about blood sugar levels and dietary factors, fail to consider how being sleep deprived can affect your chances of contracting the disease.

The problem with sleep deprivation is that hormonal levels can be affected by how much sleep you get. Hormones affect many things throughout the human body, and one of them is both appetite and insulin regulation. Insulin is critical in managing the body’s blood sugar levels. Diabetes, of course, is when the blood sugar level is too high for the body to manage on its own. Other affects from not getting enough sleep have to do with stress and stress levels; being sleep deprived can result in over production of the hormone cortisol, among others. These hormones can elevate stress, and that affects both appetite and how effectively insulin can go to work.

While type 2 diabetes is usually associated with weight, the kinds of foods you eat, and genetics, there’s also a link between sleep deprivation and developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is when there is too much glucose, or sugar, in the blood. These levels of glucose are controlled by insulin, but it has been discovered that when you are sleep deprived, your body releases less insulin. On top of this, other hormones can get thrown out of whack as well. Stress hormones, like cortisol, are released to keep you awake but these hormones reduce the effectiveness of the insulin. Additionally, a lack of sleep can cause a person to crave sugary foods or carbohydrates, and can even increase appetite. Constant overeating of sugary foods can lead to obesity, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Obesity can also lead you to feeling run down and tired all the time, lessening the likelihood that you will exercise, which is also a major tool in combating blood sugar levels and controlling your weight. It is most important to fall, and stay, in a “deep” sleep. This restorative level of sleep is vital for maintaining blood sugar levels and proper insulin levels.