Poor sleep increases diabetes risk in women studied

A recent study in Singapore found a strong link between poor sleep and an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in women who previously had gestational diabetes. The research involved nearly 3,000 women and lasted 17 years as part of the Nurses’ Health Study II. Led by Professor Zhang Cuilin from the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health, the study revealed that women sleeping six hours or less per night had a 32% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those who slept seven to eight hours. Additionally, the study showed that regular snoring is also linked to diabetes risk. Women who snored most nights had a 61% greater chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. Those who both had poor sleep and snored regularly were more than twice as likely to develop diabetes compared to women with healthy sleep patterns. The researchers noted that frequent snorers exhibited higher levels of key biomarkers, which indicate poor glucose metabolism and potential metabolic issues. This highlights the important role of sleep in long-term health. The study stresses that improving sleep may help women with a history of gestational diabetes lower their risk of diabetes. Researchers plan to explore ways to enhance sleep quality and overall health, focusing specifically on Asian women.