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People Who Sleep Badly May Be at Greater Risk of Diabetes
PEOPLE who sleep badly may be at greater risk from developing diabetes due to a mutant gene affecting their body clock, scientists said yesterday.
The mutation not only changes the way that the hormone melatonin is controlled but also disturbs the levels of insulin - the hormone that controls blood sugar, researchers believe.
They say that the effect of the mutant strain is so significant that people who carry it have about a 20% higher chance of developing diabetes.
Co-author Professor Philippe Froguel, of Imperial College London's Department of Genomic Medicine, said: "There is already some research to suggest there are links between sleep problems and conditions such as obesity and depression, both of which are associated with diabetes.
"For example, we know that obese children tend to sleep badly and that people become obese if they are not having enough sleep.
"Our new study demonstrates that abnormalities in the circadian rhythm may partly be causing diabetes and high blood sugar levels."
The study, by researchers from Britain, France, Canada and Denmark, examined the genetic make-up of more than 33,000 diabetic and non-diabetic French, Danish and Finnish people.
Professor Froguel and his colleagues have been responsible for a number of recent discoveries of genetic mutations that can raise blood sugar levels or predispose someone to developing type-2 diabetes.
The more mutations a person carries, the higher their blood sugar, the researchers have found.
PEOPLE who sleep badly may be at greater risk from developing diabetes due to a mutant gene affecting their body clock, scientists said yesterday.
The mutation not only changes the way that the hormone melatonin is controlled but also disturbs the levels of insulin - the hormone that controls blood sugar, researchers believe.
They say that the effect of the mutant strain is so significant that people who carry it have about a 20% higher chance of developing diabetes.
Co-author Professor Philippe Froguel, of Imperial College London's Department of Genomic Medicine, said: "There is already some research to suggest there are links between sleep problems and conditions such as obesity and depression, both of which are associated with diabetes.
"For example, we know that obese children tend to sleep badly and that people become obese if they are not having enough sleep.
"Our new study demonstrates that abnormalities in the circadian rhythm may partly be causing diabetes and high blood sugar levels."
The study, by researchers from Britain, France, Canada and Denmark, examined the genetic make-up of more than 33,000 diabetic and non-diabetic French, Danish and Finnish people.
Professor Froguel and his colleagues have been responsible for a number of recent discoveries of genetic mutations that can raise blood sugar levels or predispose someone to developing type-2 diabetes.
The more mutations a person carries, the higher their blood sugar, the researchers have found.
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