Taking long midday naps could be associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The Japanese study found that those who took longer naps had a 45 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes, compared to those who took short naps.
Napping less than an hour did not contribute to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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The study does not reveal cause-and-effect relationship, but rather suggests that taking long naps is often associated with other lifestyle habits that further increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes – for example, lack of physical activity.
The researchers analyzed data from over 300,000 people involved in 21 published studies. They found that naps longer than an hour were associated with a 45 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes, while shorter naps (or no napping at all) posed no additional risk of diabetes.
Another pressing question is, why do some people nap more than others? Longer naps may be associated with longer work hours, increased stress, or junk food consumption, for example. Such lifestyle, combined with long naps, involves many different factors contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, long naps could raise blood sugar levels, which over time can also increase the risk of diabetes.
Further research is required to better understand this association.
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
