by Wendy R.

Created on: November 13, 2009   Last Updated: May 06, 2010

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes with millions of Americans having this type of diabetes, many fo whom are not even aware that they have  it. Some groups have a higher risk for developing this type of diabetes. It is more prevalent in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and the aged population.

In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin and do not react to it. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use the glucose that you consume in order to make energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is then used as the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin is suppose to remove the sugar from the blood so it can be utilized by the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to the complication of diabetes.

In the United States studies have found that there is a definite increase in type 2 diabetes. These studies have shown that this increase is related to the drop in the number of hours of sleep that most Americans get nightly. Research has found that body rhythms, and sleep cycles influence melatonin levels which in turn influence type 2 diabetes.

A melatonin receptor (a protein) on the outside of cells tends to regulate when and how the body falls asleep. So melatonin, a natural sleep regulator is thought to be linked closely to higher blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetes. This is particularly prevalent in people who get less than six hours sleep a night. People who get less than six hours sleep a night have a five times greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Although this often happens in middle aged and older people there has been a marked increase in the disease in younger people too. This is caused not by too little insulin, but by insulin resistance, the inability to use insulin correctly.

In addition to the link to melatonin, type 2 diabetes may also be related to the amount of oxygen your cells take in. People who don't get enough sleep and people who wake up a lot tend to have lower oxygenation of their blood cells. This also manifests itself in an increase risk of type 2 diabetes.

Another theory related to sleep and type 2 diabetes is the one that correlates lack of sleep with aging and weight gain. Weight gain itself definitely contributes to the increased rate of type 2 diabetes. It is thought that the lack of sleep triggers the need for more food, which in turn triggers the need for more insulin.

These are just a few of the possible reasons that the lack of sleep, or the lack of continuous sleep may lead to type 2 diabetes.  Recent studies have shown that people who get six hours or less of sleep a night, as well as those who get a poor night's sleep have increased Hemoglobin A1C levels,  levels which increase with diabetes. However, more studies are needed, as type 2 diabetes is also on the increase in those people who suffer from depression. There may be a link between sleep deprivation, type 2 diabetes and depression, but more research would be needed before a definite conclusion can be made.

Learn more about this author, Wendy R..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.