Weekend Catch-Up Sleep can Reduce Diabetes Risk associated with Sleep Loss

A sleep study in process is shown. Credit: The University of Chicago Medicine

2 consecutive nights of extended sleep, a typical weekend occurrence, appears to counteract the increased risk of diabetes associated with short-term sleep restriction during the work week, at least in lean, healthy, young men eating a controlled diet. The finding, based on a study performed at the University of Chicago sleep lab could affect large numbers of people who work long hours.

Even short-term sleep restriction, with 4 or 5 hours of sleep per night, can increase the risk of developing diabetes by about 16%—comparable to the increase in risk caused by obesity.

The researchers recruited 19 volunteers, all healthy young men. On one occasion, they were allowed to sleep normally, spending 8.5 hours in bed for 4 nights. On another occasion, the same volunteers were first sleep deprived, allowed only 4.5 hours in bed for 4 consecutive nights. They spent an average of 4.3 of those hours asleep each night. Subsequently, they were allowed 2 nights of extended sleep, during which they averaged 9.7 hours of sleep. They measured their insulin sensitivity and disposition index, a predictor of diabetes risk. After 4 nights of sleep restriction, the volunteers’ insulin sensitivity decreased by 23% and their diabetes risk increased by 16%. After 2 nights of extended sleep, however, insulin sensitivity and the risk of diabetes returned to normal sleep levels.

“Though this is evidence that weekend catch-up sleep may help someone recover from a sleep-deprived week,” Broussard said, “this was not a long-term study and our subjects went through this process only once. Going forward we intend to study the effects of extended weekend sleep schedules in people who repeatedly curtail their weekday sleep.”

Note: The volunteers were given a calorie-controlled diet, but sleep-deprived adults outside the laboratory setting tend to eat more, with a strong preference for sweets and high-fat foods. Chronically sleep deprived people are more likely to develop other health problems such as increased inflammation and high BP. They also show cognitive problems, tend to be less alert and have difficulty concentrating, reasoning and solving problems and are prone to traffic accidents. The impact of extra weekend sleep on other adverse health and safety outcomes remains to be determined. http://sciencelife.uchospitals.edu/2016/01/18/weekend-catch-up-sleep-can-reduce-diabetes-risk-associated-with-sleep-loss/