HHS HealthBeat (March 16, 2009)

Sleep and Diabetes

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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

There are indications that a good night’s sleep may reduce your risk of diabetes. Lisa Rafalson of the University at Buffalo in New York saw them in six years of data on sleep habits.

Rafalson compared people who got less than 6 hours of sleep a night during the work week to those who got 6 to 8 hours. She looked at their blood sugar, or glucose, levels. Elevated levels could indicate risk of diabetes.

[Lisa Rafalson speaks] ``People who reported sleeping, on average, less than 6 hours a night were found to be four and one half times more likely to have elevated glucose levels.’’

Rafalson says it could be another reason for people to get adequate sleep.

The study supported by the National Institutes of Health was presented at an American Heart Association conference.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March, 16 2009