Partial Sleep Deprivation And Insulin Resistance

Sleep deprivation, as a consequence of voluntary sleep restriction or sleep disorders, has become endemic in our modern 24 hr society. Accumulating evidence from both experimental and epidemiologic studies suggests that sleep deprivation may represent an important risk factor for development of insulin resistance and diabetes. Several potential pathways could lead to insulin resistance after sleep restriction. However, a causal relation between sleep deprivation and insulin resistance remains to be defined. In this chapter, we will first discuss the impact of sleep on glucose metabolism and methods to assess insulin sensitivity. Subsequently, current data on the effect of sleep restriction on insulin sensitivity, will be discussed.