A new study conducted on a group of 62 teenagers, found that both blood glucose and insulin levels remained at optimum levels in the youths who got seven and a half to eight and a half hours of sleep overnight. The benefits were most prevalent in that range while those who got more sleep had a greater risk of experiencing increased blood sugar levels and those who got less than seven and a half hours had decreased insulin levels. Conducted over a period of a day and a half, the study measured the blood sugar levels and sleeping patterns of obese teenagers.

“Our study found that to keep glucose levels stable, the optimal amount of sleep for teenagers is 7.5 to 8.5 hours per night,” says Dr. Koren the lead researcher. He also notes that the team is planning to perform additional research to determine whether the results will hold up when teenagers are studied in their own homes rather than in a laboratory. “In the meantime, our study reinforces the idea that getting adequate sleep in adolescence may help protect against type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Koren.