Researchers from St. George's, University of London in the United Kingdom did a study, published in the journal 'Pediatrics' to examine the potential link between sleep duration and type 2 diabetes risk in children. The team examined 4,525 multi-ethnic children aged between 9 and 10 years, all of whom were living in the U.K. They took the children's body measurements including bioimpedance - a measure of how well the body resists electric current, which gives insights into body composition.The researchers took blood samples and tested the children's predisposition to type 2 diabetes using a plasma glucose test. The scientists also tested the children's levels of lipids, insulin, and the hemoglobin HbA1c, among others.

Sleep duration was calculated using the information provided by the children. Overall, the children slept for 10.5 hours per night, on average. The study found no associations with cardiovascular risk factors, such as the hemoglobin HbA1c. However, the study did find that the shorter the sleep duration, the higher the children's levels of body fat - an association previous studies have also highlighted.

Additionally, the research uncovered a similar inverse correlation between sleep duration and insulin levels, insulin resistance, and blood sugar levels. In fact, just 1 hour of less sleep significantly increased type 2 diabetes risk factors, such as blood sugar and insulin resistance.

Prof. Owen and colleagues also add that increasing the mean sleep length during the weekday by as little as 30 minutes could lead to a decrease in body mass index (BMI) of 0.1 kilograms per square meter and a decrease in insulin resistance.

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