"Our study identified a modifiable lifestyle factor that can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said lead author Sina Kianersi, PhD, a research fellow in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in a press release, "Our findings underscore the importance of consistent sleep patterns as a strategy to reduce type 2 diabetes."
For the study, the researchers analyzed accelerometry data from over 84,000 participants from the UK Biobank. Participants were an average of 62 years old and did not have diabates at the start of the study. Data on sleep patterns was gathered from accelerometers- watch-like devices that measure movement- that participants wore for seven nights during the study. They were followed for around seven years.
Ultimately, the researchers found that participants with irregular sleep- defined as variation in day-to-day sleep duration of more than 60 minutes on average- had a 34% high risk of developing diabetes. Adjusting for lifestyle, comorbidities, environmental factors, and adiposity somewhat attenuated this link. However, the link was stronger for those with longer sleep duration and lower polygenic risk scores for diabetes.
One limitation to the study is that researchers only assessed sleep duration for seven nights, meaning they were perhaps unable to capture long-term sleep patterns. Participants were also largely healthy, older, and white, meaning that the findings may not represent more diverse populations.
"Our findings have the potential to improve diabetes prevention on multiple levels. Clinically, they might inform better patient care and treatment plans. Public health guidelines could promote regular sleep patterns. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanism and confirm the results in other populations," said Kianersi.
Sources: Science Daily, Diabetes Care