You know how important sleep is for your health. It’s during this time that the body repairs itself. It’s also essential for cognitive functions. A new study has found that losing just 1.5 hours of sleep can increase the risk of developing diabetes if you’re a woman.
The Study
Data from Columbia University Irving Medical Center shows that losing 90 minutes of sleep for just 6 weeks increases insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when the body doesn’t respond appropriately to insulin your body produces.
It’s a major risk factor in the development of type 2 diabetes in women. The effects of that loss of sleep were even more obvious in post-menopausal women. Previous studies involved groups that were predominantly male, only addressed severe sleep deprivation, and over a very short time period.
Optimal Sleep
Science has long held that the average person requires between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. However, one-third of the adult population receives less than that.
Lifetime Changes
Women undergo more changes in their sleep habits and schedules due to having children, child rearing, and menopause. Women’s sleep habits can also change as a result of caring for elderly parents or a spouse with a health condition. Chronic pain, disease and other factors also affect sleep.
Important Results
Fasting insulin levels increased by more than 12 percent during the study. The rate was 15 percent in post-menopausal women. Insulin resistance also increased. It was 15 percent overall and more than 20 percent in post-menopausal women. Researchers hypothesize that the long-term stress created by lack of sleep can result in a failure of insulin producing cells that can eventually result in diabetes.
The Takeaway
Loss of sleep has serious implications for women. Between work, children and family obligations, getting enough sleep can be difficult. The lesson for women, especially those that are post-menopausal, is to take time to care for yourself. Adjust your sleep schedule in whatever manner you need to ensure you get enough slumber.
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