Poor sleepers face greater diabetes risk

According to recent reports by scientists, those people that sleep badly could be facing greater diabetes risks due to a mutated gene that affects their bodily rhythm. The study, reported on yesterday in the diabetes news, concerns a hormone called melatonin.
A mutation of melatonin could be strong enough to disturb insulin and result in a 20 per cent greater chance of developing diabetes . Professor Philippe Froguel, who co-authored the study, reportedly 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 . We hope it will ultimately provide new options for treating people.”
Froguel is an expert working from the Imperial College London Department of Genomic Medicine. He reportedly concluded: “We are nearing the stage when we can develop tests that can identify the people most at risk of developing high blood sugar and diabetes later in their lives, so we can intervene to improve their health before they reach that point.”