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Study sleep deficit in childhood increases the subsequent risk of diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects more and more people today. Researchers have now found that if children get too little sleep, it will increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Children need plenty of sleep, which most parents will probably know. The scientists at St. George's University of London now identified another reason why children should sleep early and sleep enough. Insufficient sleep can lead to type 2 diabetes in children. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Pediatrics".
If children sleep too little, it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. (Image: PhotographyByMK / fotolia.com) When children sleep too little, their weight increases and insulin resistance increases
In their study, the experts examined more than 4,500 British children. The physicians found a connection between the sleeping habits of the children and certain risk markers for diabetes. When children regularly slept less hours at night, they often had a slightly increased weight and had stronger insulin resistance.
Resistance to insulin may be a precursor to type 2 diabetes
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When the body starts to become insulin resistant, it can be a precursor to type 2 diabetes, say the experts. Sleep habits can increase the risk of diabetes and other health conditions later in life, explain the researchers.
Results could be due to differences in brain functions
Previous studies have found that an increased risk of diabetes can be traced from childhood to later adulthood. The new findings, however, can not prove that a lack of sleep increases the risk of diabetes in children. There may be other explanations for the link between childhood sleep and risk markers for diabetes, scientists suggest. For example, the context could reflect differences in brain functions that regulate sleep, appetite, and insulin sensitivity. It is not yet clear if there is a causal association between sleep, obesity and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, there is no disadvantage in having parents take care that their children get enough sleep, the authors explain.
Positive effects of adequate sleep
There are studies that suggest that adequate sleep is necessary for optimal learning and memory. Regular, adequate sleep also has a positive effect on mood, explain the scientists. Sleep affects the release of various hormones, and inadequate sleep could actually directly affect children's weight and their insulin resistance, researchers said in a press release from St. George's University of London.
Children should sleep nine to eleven hours a night
Experts advise parents that especially children of school age should get enough sleep. TVs and electronic devices should be turned off at best one hour before going to bed, liquids should be taken only limitedly before bedtime. Caffeine should of course be avoided before going to bed. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children between the ages of six and thirteen should sleep nine to eleven hours a night.
Physicians performed various tests
The participating children were at the age of nine to ten years. Subjects were interviewed about their usual sleep times. The researchers also measured the children's weight, height and body fat. They also took blood samples to test insulin and blood sugar levels.
Wide variation of the sleep habits of participants noted
On average, the children received about 10.5 hours of sleep per night. However, there was a wide variation in the sleep habits of the participants: some children were given only eight hours of sleep per night, while others usually slept for twelve hours.
Further research is needed
The results of the study showed that prolonged sleep in children resulted in lower insulin resistance, and these participants were generally slightly thinner. Additional sleep in early life could be a simple and cost-effective approach to reducing body fat and the risk of type 2 diabetes, the researchers explain. But the only way to verify these effects is a study in which researchers get children to sleep more. (As)