US Pharm. 2015;40(3):5.
Chicago, IL—According to investigators at the University of Chicago, sleep restriction elevates free fatty acids and is accompanied by temporary prediabetic conditions. In 19 healthy young men whose sleep was limited to 4 hours per night for three nights, blood levels of fatty acids remained elevated from 4 am to 9 am, and as long as fatty acids remained high, insulin’s ability to regulate blood sugars was reduced. Results indicate that insufficient sleep may disrupt fat metabolism and suggest that simply getting enough sleep could counteract the current epidemics of diabetes and obesity. The study provides evidence for possible mechanisms behind the association between sleep restriction and insulin resistance and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
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