Chennai: Though there are many who love to sleep, and can do so at any hour, there are some others who sleep for barely three to four hours a day. Doctors say both excessive sleep and lack of it can result in individuals developing diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
“Sleep is one of the most essential requirements of the body that needs to be fulfilled in order to keep the body healthy. It has been found that over the years, the average number of sleep hours has been reducing among the public,” said diabetologist Maduhmati. R. “Reducing the number of hours of sleep – even for only a week – can result in the development of early diabetes,” she added.
“A majority of today’s population are workaholics and sleep is secondary for many of them. There is only a limit of stress that the body can handle,” said counsellor Nilam. P.
“Too little rest disrupts your body’s circadian rhythm, which if disturbed, results in the body becoming less responsive to insulin, a hormone the helps cells turn sugar into energy. It is then that the body develops diabetes,” said diabetologist K.Thomas.
“Another factor for the lack of sleep is light. Many tend to forget the importance of sleeping in darkness. Being exposed to regular patterns of light and dark regulates our circadian rhythm,” added Thomas.
Doctors say it is not only lack of sleep that can affect the body, but too much sleep can put a person at a great risk for type 2 diabetes. Many do not know when is the right time to sleep. People tend to stay up all night and sleep in the mornings. There are some others who sleep right after stuffing themselves with food. Such factors can also increase the risk for diabetes,” added Madhumati.
“Though my days are usually hectic, I make it a point to take my afternoon nap. Doctors had told me that it helps serve as a stress buster. However, it was only after my health started getting affected, did I become aware of the fact that sleeping on a full stomach is not advisable,” said Pushpalatha (43), a Mylapore resident.
