Sleep found to impact overall health including diabetes risk, according to study
30.09.2022 - 15:11
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health and while most of us feel we get enough hours, the time we got to bed may also impact wellbeing.
New research published in Experimental Physiology compared the health of those who have later bed times and early risers and found significant differences. Researchers found the wake/sleep cycles causes metabolic differences, further impacting the body's preference for energy sources.
People who go to bed later were found to use less fat for energy, meaning lipids may build up within the body, raising the risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Academics from Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, divided participants into two groups: either the early or the late sleepers.
Participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day, with both groups eating a calorie and nutrition controlled diet. Researchers used advanced imaging to assess body mass and body composition, as well as insulin sensitivity and breath samples to measure fat and carbohydrate metabolism, reports the Mirror.
The metabolic rates and differences relate to how well a person can use insulin to promote glucose uptake by the cells for storage and energy use, a vital component in healthy weight.
People who are early birds rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day. On the other hand, night owls use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.
Night owls were also found to be more insulin-resistant, meaning their bodies requires more insulin to lower blood glucose levels, and their bodies favoured carbohydrates as an energy source over fats.
Previous research has found that people who fall asleep after midnight had a 25%