Lack Of Sleep Increases Insulin Resistance In Women, Study Finds

Insulin resistance does not often cause symptoms but is a key precursor to Type 2 diabetes. Many doctors also opt out of insulin resistance testing given the complexity and price of the test. 

The sneaky factor: sleep. According to a new study published in the Diabetes Care Journal, women who got an average of 6.2 hours of sleep each night over the six-week study saw impaired insulin sensitivity, independent of body fat percentage. 

A group of 38 women between the ages of 25 and 75 participated in the study, 11 of whom were postmenopausal. Each woman in the group reported habitual sleep time between seven and nine hours pre-study. 

Researchers state that sleep's impact on insulin sensitivity was significant among the whole group but even more so for postmenopausal women. 

Unfortunately, postmenopausal women are simultaneously more at risk for sleep-onset insomnia disorder (having trouble falling asleep but not staying asleep) than premenopausal women, according to previous research.

Depending on your personal sleep habits, getting roughly six hours a night may sound pretty standard. The CDC estimates 33.2% of adults in the U.S. qualify for "short sleep,"1 meaning they get less than seven hours each night.

This research shows just how important this nightly recharge is, for insulin sensitivity and so much more. While more research is certainly needed to confirm these findings in other groups, prioritizing your sleep is never a bad idea.