Sleep, Diabetes and Hypnosis

This is the latest from Dr. Amen . Enjoy its reference to hypnosis for sleep!!


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Less Sleep = Greater Risk for Diabetes

You probably know that a sedentary lifestyle and obesity increase your odds of developing type 2 diabetes. What you may not know is that sleep deprivation can also put you at risk for this serious condition. In a study with healthy volunteers, a shortened sleep cycle led to insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance — two signs of diabetes — after just two weeks.

For the two-part study, which appeared in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, participants were restricted to 5.5 hours of bedtime each night for a two-week period. In this short amount of time, their glucose tolerance measured in at a mean of 144 mg/dL and insulin sensitivity was reduced.

In an attempt to mimic the primary contributing factors of metabolic syndrome, which is associated with a heightened risk for type 2 diabetes, the volunteers also kept exercise to a minimum and gulped down as much food as they wanted.

For the other part of the study, the participants continued with limited exercise and ate without restriction, but their sleep duration was increased. Instead of 5.5 hours of shut-eye, they got 8.5 hours of bedtime each night. After this two-week trial, the mean glucose tolerance level was 132 mg/dL.

Each participant completed the two 14-day tests in random order, at least three months apart.

Considering that one in five Americans is estimated to get less than six hours of sleep each night, this is alarming news. For peak brain performance, everybody needs to get at least seven hours of sleep. If you are having trouble sleeping, try the following tips:
Maintain a regular sleep schedule, including on weekends.
Create a soothing nighttime routine that encourages sleep.
Don’t take naps!
Take supplements that promote relaxation and sleep.
Try hypnosis.
To your brain health,
Daniel

Daniel G. Amen, MD
CEO, Amen Clinics, Inc.