Daytime siestas could lead to diabetes: study

10 March 2009

Taking power naps during the day, which was previously thought to be beneficial, may in fact increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

The study of 16,480 people in China found that those who napped even once a week were 26 per cent more likely to develop the disease than those who did not.

Several factors might be linked to this finding, the researchers suggest, such as an association between napping and reduced physical activity - people who nap are also probably taking less exercise.

Napping during the day could also disrupt night sleep. Shorter night sleeps have been found to be linked to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Birmingham and from Guangzhou Hospital in China, will be presented at Diabetes UK's annual conference in Glasgow's SECC.

The researchers will tell delegates that waking up from napping also activates hormones and mechanisms in the body that stop insulin working effectively, and this could predispose people to Type 2 diabetes that can develop when the insulin the body makes does not work properly.