Report claims that napping can cause diabetes

Napping can significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes, recent studies have revealed.

Research conducted by the University of Birmingham has shown that regular lunchtime siestas may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 26 per cent.

Students who nap during the day risk disrupting night-time sleep patterns. Getting less than six hours sleep a night has previously been associated with type 2 diabetes risks. Late nights, a staple of the student lifestyle, also increase susceptibility to diabetes.

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK said: “This new research could be another step towards explaining the possible link between disturbed sleep patterns and type 2 diabetes.”

According to the news service Medical News Today, awaking from sleep activates hormones and mechanisms in the body that stop insulin working effectively. This can result in a predisposition to type 2 diabetes in which there is an over-production of insulin in the body leading to insulin resistance.

As such, power-naps—the caffeine substitute and recommended stimulus to student productivity—now come with a health warning.

In the UK 2.25m people are diagnosed with having type 2 diabetes and another 500,000 are thought to be undiagnosed.

The disease is most commonly found in over-weight, middle-aged adults, although adolescents and young adults are developing type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate. It is the most common form of diabetes and can cause blindness, kidney failure and heart disease.

Jen Sutherland, history student and serial napper said: "It's a bit worrying. With dissertation and essay deadlines fourth years are constantly working through the night, so sleeping during the day is sometimes the only option."

But Ms Sutherland also added that the possibility of developing diabetes would not prevent her from sleeping during the day.

Dr Frame cautioned: "In terms of being major risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, disturbed sleep or napping are likely to remain less significant than already established risk factors such as being overweight, being over the age of 40 or having a history of diabetes in the family."

Dr Shahrad Taheri, a researcher on the study added: “As the number of people with type 2 diabetes keeps increasing, it is crucial that we do everything we can to help prevent people from developing the condition.”