Many of us love sleeping, taking naps, sleeping in over the weekend, especially during the cold winter months. It just feels good because sleep lets us relax and recharge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American sleeps 8 hours and 45 minutes a day and the recommended amount of time to sleep is between 7 and 8 hours. But, does sleeping too much put you at risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
LIKE DailyVitamina.com on Facebook! Get Your Daily Vitamin…FOR LIFE!
A recent longitudinal Nurses’ Health Study found that increasing sleep duration over time may raise the risk for type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and older women. Researchers analyzed 59,031 women to assess the relationship between long-term changes in sleep duration and changes in energy balance and their risk for type 2 diabetes.
Some argue that the amount of physical activity, poor diet and BMI are already risks for diabetes, yet sleeping more puts them at even a higher risk. Some scientists argue that sleeping longer may be a symptom of a sleeping disorder, depression or bad health, and these factors don’t put them at risk for diabetes. The fact is that sleeping too much does put you at risk for other medical problems, such as:
- Obesity
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Depression
- Heart Disease
- Death
There is a reason you need sleep and that’s because when you sleep your body is able to recharge for the next day. Sleep helps you fight weight-gain, improves your decision making abilities, decreases your anxiety, refreshes your immune system, stabilizes your blood sugar and lowers your risk of disease.