- Scientists have identified an optimal sleep duration of seven hours and 18 minutes per night to reduce the risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
- Both sleeping more or less than this optimal period was associated with a heightened risk of pre-diabetes, according to a study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
- Experts explain that poor sleep can lead to poorer appetite control and directly impact hormone levels, such as stress hormones, which affect sugar levels and increase insulin resistance.
- Moderate catch-up sleep on weekends, specifically one to two hours for those undersleeping during the week, was found to be beneficial for insulin resistance.
- Conversely, for individuals already sleeping more than the optimal weekday amount, more than two hours of extra sleep at the weekend was linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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