Historically, type 2 diabetes comes later in life as a result of years of poor lifestyle choices. Lately, however, it has been a common diagnosis among children.
There are so many factors that might explain this trend, though it usually boils down to lifestyle habits. One such habit is poor sleep.
Lack of Sleep Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Children
According to a new study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who don’t get adequate sleep each night are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The study observed 4,500 children between the ages of nine and 10 in the UK. The researchers collected self-reported data on sleep times. They also took body measurements and blood samples from the participants.
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They found that those who had the most sleep had lower BMIs, lower insulin resistance, and lower fasting glucose levels than those with less sleep. The results were so significantly clear that the authors of the study say that even an increase in just 30 minutes a night can reduce the risk of diabetes. 
This connection is new, though.
Poor sleep habits are connected to type 2 diabetes in adults, as well. In fact, we have lots of articles on this connection right here at Diabetics Weekly.
This study that looked at the connection between diabetes and sleep in children, though, is a relatively new direction in diabetes research.
Even though it did not follow up with the participants to see if type 2 diabetes was actually diagnosed, the diabetes markers in the children were certainly there. The next step, then, would be to follow up when the children are adults to see how many of them ended up with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
The best thing to do now is to set an early bed time for everyone in the family and have sweet dreams.
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[expand title=”References“]
ABC News. URL Link. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
WebMD. URL Link. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
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