Insulin impact of a night’s poor sleep ‘equal to six months on high-fat diet’

A single night of sleep deprivation and six months on a high-fat diet could both impair insulin sensitivity to a similar degree, according to new research.

The study from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has used a canine model to examine whether sleep deprivation and a high-fat diet affect insulin sensitivity in similar ways.

Prior to the high-fat diet, one night of sleep deprivation reduced insulin sensitivity by 33 per cent, a reduction similar to the 21 per cent drop induced by a high-fat diet alone. Once the dogs had impaired insulin sensitivity from high fat consumption, sleep deprivation did not further impair the insulin sensitivity.

When the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, it creates the need to produce more insulin to keep blood sugar stable – a state of affairs that eventually may lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Dr Josiane Broussard at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said: "This research demonstrates the importance of adequate sleep in maintaining blood sugar levels and reducing risk for metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes."