Good night, sweet dreams…
Puff, the cat, in dreamland
Is Your Sleep Deprivation Leading You to Diabetes?
Dr. Michael J. Breus - Dr. Breus, aka The Sleep Doctor, is the author of “Beauty Sleep”, available on Amazon.
Posted: September 11, 2009 12:23 PM
Pop quiz: Which of the following words does not seem to go with the others?
- Obesity
- Calories
- Insulin
- Sleep
- Fat
If you said sleep, you’re right. Er, you’re wrong actually.
While sleep may not seem like it belongs in the same category as words that revolve around weight, it actually has everything to do with weight and whether or not you’re at risk for diabetes.
A brief nap on the train to catch up on rest and sleep time. (Not so good.)
Two fascinating studies that just came out to further prove it:
1. One study out of a sleep lab at Penn State College showed that insomniacs who slept only five to six hours a night had greater odds of developing diabetes.
2. The other study, this one from the University of Chicago and published in this month’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, demonstrated that sleep deprivation mixed with sedentary living and free access to food can change the body’s physiology to the point it resembles that of a prediabetic. In other words, the body’s insulin resistance and glucose tolerance shifts, leaning toward a dangerous condition that’s a precursor to full-blown diabetes.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty remarkable…and scary. This change in physiology, by the way, in the second study happened over the course of just two weeks as healthy adults were forced to get by on only five hours a night.
None of this was news to me. I’ve written numerous times about the impact of quality sleep in our ability to lose and maintain a healthy weight, and avoid the ravages of diabetes.
Other studies have also shown what happens when we miss out on sleep. We can’t seem to go a day without more news about our diabetes and obesity problem. But I still find that the conversation about this hugely popular topic often gravitates toward access to healthy diet choices, and ways to get more regular physical activity. What about access to more and better sleep?
Sweet Dreams,
Michael J. Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor™
www.thesleepdoctor.com This article on diabetes, weight and sleep is also available at Dr. Breus’s official blog, The Insomnia Blog.
My comments: The reasons for the photo of the sleeping kitten at the top are these: kitten and cats are very popular on the Web, it got your attention; kittens and cats almost always get enough sleep. Could that be why they are so alert and full of life when they are awake?
If you are not getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep in each 24-hour cycle, you could be endangering your health. And if your partner tells you that you have sleep apnea, please get medical help. You can die in your sleep (at any age) if you suffer from sleep apnea. Diabetes is no condition to ignore. Get a blood sugar test ASAP if you think you have diabetes symptoms. You may not even need insulin injections, or diabetes pharmaceuticals, you may just need to change your daily diet. Be sure to talk with your general practicioner or family medicine doctor… they will take the most time to talk with you and form a diagnosis.
You see, if we stay healthy by getting plenty of rest and deep sleep, we may not even need health insurance. After all, health insurance does nothing to keep you healthy; in fact, they are encouraging you to bet against yourself, so your mind tells your body, “it’s OK, now you can get sick, you have insurance”. Ha!
Those companies are just “the middleman” who take in billions of dollars in premiums, keep over 30% in profits (legally) and pay our doctors and hospitals for our care… well, I’m told they pay a percentage if and when they feel like it. They are just a money exchange and record-keeping enterprise. They do nothing to keep us well. Think about it.
They are more like the phantasms we deal with in our dreams sometimes. When we wake up, they go away.
However, most all Americans should have insurance that pays if a serious accident happens or if a hospital stay is required. Those two occurances can bankrupt a family as well.
Read more advice from a physician (it’s FREE!):
