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A very important study has come out, in which the habit of staying awake till late at night and getting up late in the morning is being blamed for the increasing number of diabetes cases. Lack of sleep can lead to the development of many other diseases including diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common non-communicable diseases in India. More than 100 million people in the country are affected by this disease. In view of the increasing number of diabetes cases, India has been declared the diabetes capital. Many factors can be responsible for the increasing number of diabetes cases, especially wrong eating habits, unhealthy lifestyle, stress etc. are responsible for this. At the same time, a very important study has come to light, in which the habit of staying awake till late at night and getting up late in the morning is being blamed for the increasing number of diabetes cases.

Nowadays, most people have developed the habit of sleeping late at night. But there are many people among them who sleep late at night and wake up early in the morning for office, due to which they do not get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to the risk of many diseases including diabetes (late sleeping side effect). Muzammil Sultan, Senior Registrar – Critical Care Medicine – Maringo Asia Hospital Gurugram has told some important things related to increasing blood sugar in those who stay awake late at night, and research also supports this (late sleeping side effect).

What does research say about sleeping late and the risk of diabetes (late sleeping side effect)

The study, led by Dr. Jeroen van der Velde of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, focused on the relationship between sleep duration, body fat and diabetes risk. This is a chronic condition in which the body cannot properly use insulin (a hormone released in the pancreas), which can lead to increased blood sugar. It is often associated with obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet.

The study involved data from more than 5,000 people in the Netherlands Epidemiology Science study of obesity. The participants had an average age of 56 years and all reported detailed sleep habits, which were used to divide them into early, intermediate and late chronotype groups (natural sleep-wake patterns).

There are 3 types of sleep patterns in people

Early Chronotype: People who like to wake up early and go to bed on time.
Intermediate Chronotype: Maintain a balanced sleep schedule, neither too early nor too late.
Late Chronotype: Likes to stay up late and wake up late in the morning.
The study also measured BMI, waist circumference and body fat levels of all people, while MRI scans were used to assess visceral and liver fat in a subset of participants.

Those with a late chronotype were found to have a 46% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the intermediate group, even after adjusting for factors such as age, physical activity, and sleep quality. They also had higher BMIs, larger waistlines, and showed increased amounts of visceral and liver fat.

Now let’s know what the experts’ opinion is on this

According to Dr Muzammil Sultan, “Even after controlling for lifestyle factors such as nutrition and exercise, people who sleep late have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Sleep schedules have a major impact on metabolic health. The circadian rhythm, which is essential for regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, can be disturbed by late sleep patterns. This disturbance can result in increased insulin resistance and decreased glucose tolerance.”

“In addition, irregular eating habits and insufficient sleep are common among late sleepers, and both of these factors lead to imbalanced metabolic outcomes. Long-term sleep deprivation can exacerbate these outcomes by increasing stress hormones such as cortisol, which impair glucose homeostasis. Therefore, an imbalance between sleep habits and the body’s normal circadian rhythm may increase the risk of diabetes.”

“This may occur even with a balanced diet and consistent exercise. Therefore, controlling diabetes risk and promoting metabolic health may require addressing sleep scheduling issues and improving overall sleep quality.”

Incomplete sleep or incomplete nutrition, which is a bigger risk for diabetes?

This research focuses on sleep patterns as a risk factor for diabetes. While physical activity, diet and smoking habits are often emphasized for diabetes prevention, this study shows that sleep timing may be just as important. People who sleep late may stay awake when their bodies should be resting, which can disturb the natural balance of hormones that control appetite and metabolism.

For example, staying up late can increase levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin and decrease levels of leptin, the hormone that signals satiety to the body. This hormonal imbalance can encourage late-night eating, increasing the risk of weight gain and metabolic diseases.

Some important tips for those who sleep late

Managing daily habits is important to reduce the risks associated with sleeping late. For example, avoiding late night eating can help reduce the effects of staying up late on metabolic health. Late sleepers are advised to gradually improve their sleep schedule, which reduces the risk of a number of diseases.

The most important thing for you is to take care of your sleep hygiene. This will help you get better sleep and your body will be able to heal itself completely. Once you get into the habit of sleeping on time, it becomes easier for you to wake up on time in the morning.