Getting enough sleep isn't just crucial for feeling refreshed the next day — it's a cornerstone of long-term health. But what's more important: the total hours of sleep or the consistency of those hours? A new study highlights the significance of maintaining regular sleep patterns for preventing type 2 diabetes.

An irregular sleep pattern increases the risk of developing diabetes by 34%, according to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care.

"Our study identified a modifiable lifestyle factor that can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our findings underscore the importance of consistent sleep patterns as a strategy to reduce type 2 diabetes," lead author Sina Kianersi from the Brigham and Women's Hospital said in a news release.

To uncover the link between sleep patterns and type 2 diabetes, researchers examined the UK Biobank Study, analyzing accelerometry data from over 84,000 participants. The average age of the participants was 62, with 57% being female and 97% white, and all of them were initially free of diabetes. The participants wore accelerometers that monitored movement for a week, and they were followed up for about 7.5 years for the development of diabetes, primarily through medical records.

"The investigators found that more irregular sleep duration was associated with higher diabetes risk after adjusting for a wide range of risk factors. This association was more pronounced in individuals with longer sleep duration and lower polygenic risk score for diabetes," the news release stated.

Participants with irregular sleep patterns, experiencing fluctuations in daily sleep duration of over 60 minutes, faced a 34% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with regular sleep schedules. The researchers noted that the increased risk remained, though slightly reduced, even after adjusting for lifestyle factors, co-morbidities, family history, and obesity indicators.

The study has certain limitations. Some lifestyle data were collected up to five years before the accelerometer study started, possibly affecting accuracy. Also, tracking sleep for just seven days might not reflect long-term patterns. Since the participants were mostly healthy, older, and White, they may not represent more diverse populations.

However, according to Kianersi, "the findings have the potential to improve diabetes prevention on multiple levels."

"Clinically, they might inform better patient care and treatment plans. Public health guidelines could promote regular sleep patterns. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanism and confirm the results in other populations," Kianersi added.

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