Recent findings published in 'Diabetes Care' highlight a significant health concern for women: the impact of reduced sleep on glucose metabolism. The study focused on women aged 20-75 years without any cardiometabolic diseases, who usually slept 7-9 hours per night. The researchers conducted a 6-week study in two phases: maintaining regular sleep and reducing sleep by 1.5 hours each night.

      The study's results were striking. When sleep was reduced, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR (a measure of insulin resistance) values increased, indicating a decline in insulin sensitivity. This effect was more pronounced in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women.

      These findings suggest that even mild sleep deprivation, resembling the sleep patterns of many women in the real world, can negatively impact insulin sensitivity. This is especially relevant for women throughout various life stages, including childbearing, child-rearing, and menopause, where sleep patterns often fluctuate. The study underscores the importance of adequate sleep-in managing insulin resistance, a key factor in diabetes prevention.

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