Night owls or early birds: Who gets Diabetes?

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has revealed that women who identify with an "evening chronotype," meaning they prefer staying up late at night, face a higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with a "morning chronotype," who prefer going to bed early. This association remains significant even after accounting for other known risk factors.

The term "evening chronotype" refers to individuals who naturally lean towards later sleep and activity patterns, while "morning chronotype" individuals prefer earlier sleep and wake times. Evening chronotypes have previously been linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices, obesity, and disrupted blood sugar control, but this study provides important prospective data.

The research involved approximately 64,000 middle-aged women, predominantly white and middle-class, with no history of diabetes. Half of these women did not neatly fit into either chronotype category, indicating variability in their sleep patterns.

The findings showed that those with an evening chronotype were 1.5 times more likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviours compared to those with a morning chronotype. Even more concerning, during an average follow-up period of 7.4 years, women with an evening chronotype were significantly more likely to develop diabetes, with a 20% increased risk.

In essence, this study highlights that a preference for staying up late at night, or having an evening chronotype, appears to be an independent risk factor for diabetes among women.

While it is crucial to address lifestyle factors, this research emphasises the importance of understanding individual sleep patterns and their impact on health, offering valuable insights for diabetes prevention and management strategies.

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