Family Life

08.03.09 | FL News Team

(Chicago, IL)  --  Lack of sleep may contribute to increased diabetes risk.  That's the finding of a study conducted at the University of Chicago that involved a group of healthy middle-aged men and women who lived in controlled environments for four weeks.

For the entire month, test subjects were sedentary with free access to food.  During the first two weeks they were given eight-and-a-half-hour sleep times.  The second two weeks that was reduced to five-and-a-half-hours.

When sleep periods were reduced, test subjects showed marked changes in their response to two sugar tests similar to those seen in people at increased risk of developing diabetes.  

The researchers say the results indicate a healthy lifestyle should include adequate amounts of physical activity and healthy eating habits but also plenty of sleep.  Larger studies are planned.

Research results will be printed in the Endocrine Society's "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism."