There’s an Irish proverb that sums up the connection between your health and sleep. It goes something like this, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”
I’m not sure how the quote came about, but obviously it was said by a very wise person — because in recent years researchers have come to learn just how true that proverb is.
Poor sleep has been tied to chronic pain, waste build-up in the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s and dementia and — surprisingly — you can even lose bone density due to lack of sleep.
If you have any doubts as to how important sleep is to your physical health, take a minute to read the posts at those links and find out for yourself. Because what comes next is an even bigger shocker…
New research [1] has found that just one night of sleep deprivation impairs your insulin sensitivity as much as six months on a high fat diet. Six months!
Of course we know what happens when your body becomes less sensitive to insulin. It needs to produce more to keep your blood sugar stable. This is how many people end up with type 2 diabetes which can cascade into even more serious complications, like heart disease.
The study was conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, using a canine model. Dogs were fed a high-fat diet for six months. But at the start, insulin sensitivity was measured in dogs that had one night of sleep deprivation, and compared to dogs that had normal sleep. After the high-fat diet, at testing, the dogs that experienced one night without sleep showed a reduction in insulin sensitivity by 33 percent. For the dogs who slept well, the high fat diet alone reduced their insulin sensitivity by 21 percent.
According to researcher leader Josiane Broussard, PhD, “Research has shown that sleep deficiency and a high-fat diet both lead to impaired insulin sensitivity, but it was previously unknown which leads to more severe insulin resistance,” said Dr. Broussard. “Our study suggests that one night of total sleep deprivation may be as detrimental to insulin sensitivity as six months on a high-fat diet. This research demonstrates the importance of adequate sleep in maintaining blood sugar levels and reducing risk for metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.”
In addition to impaired insulin sensitivity, sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and overall increased risk for metabolic diseases.
These findings were presented at The Obesity Society Annual Meeting earlier in November. Caroline M. Apovian, MD, FACP, FACN, a Fellow and spokesperson for The Obesity Society, had this to say about the research, “It is critical for health practitioners to emphasize the importance of sleep to their patients. Many patients understand the importance of a balanced diet, but they might not have a clear idea of how critical sleep is to maintaining equilibrium in the body.”
As far as what your doctor may tell at your next checkup, I wouldn’t hold your breath and bet on him giving you any advice about sleep. We know all too well, there’s money to be made in doling out medicine instead. But now that you know, make it a priority to get the best sleep you can, as often as you can.
[1] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151104134039.htm
