Sleeping too much or too little could prove deadly for millions living with common condition

IF YOU are lucky enough to get more than nine hours of sleep a night you may in fact be causing yourself harm.

Sleeping too much or too little has been found as a potentially deadly consequence for millions of people living with a health condition.

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Scientists in Denmark looked at almost 400 people and measured how much they slept over 10 days.

All participants had recently been diagnsed with type 2 diabetes, having had the condition for an average of three and a half years.

An estimated 4.4 million people in the UK have diabetes, according to Diabetes UK, of which 90 per cent have type 2.

And a further 1.2 million people could be living with type 2 diabetes but are undiagnosed.

The latest study aimed to see how sleep impacts their risk of further harms.

After having their sleep data collected, Danish participants were classified into three categories – those who had short sleep (less than seven hours), those who had optimal (seven to nine hours), and those who had too much (nine hours or more).

The researchers looked for evidence of microvascular damage, which is damage to the small blood vessels that could ultimtely lead to more serious problems, such as vision loss and decline in kidney function.

Prevalence of microvascular damage was 38 per cent, 18 per cent, and 31 per cent in the short, optimal, and long sleep duration groups, respectively. 

Short sleep duration was significantly associated with a 2.6 times increased risk of microvascular disease compared with optimal sleep.

Similarly, long sleep duration had a 2.3 times increased risk of microvascular disease compared to optimal sleep.

The effects were worse with age, at least for the impact of short sleep.

Short sleep duration for those over 62 years was associated with a 5.7 times increased risk of small blood vessel damage compared to optimal sleep duration. 

But for participants aged under 62 years, short sleep duration only increased the risk of microvascular damage by 23 per cent.

Increasing evidence suggests that variations in sleep duration may influence the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. 

Although 60 per cent of people in the study had optimal sleep, that left 12 per cent who were not sleeping enough and 28 per cent who slept too much.

The researchers, who will present their findings at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, say diabetics could improve their health by focusing on sleep.

Microvascular complications are major contributors to complications associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), including nephropathy and retinopathy.

Almost one in five people with diabetes will need treatment for diabetic nephropathy, which can lead to kidney failure – needing dialysis or a kidney transplant.

It can cause high blood pressure which is a risk factor for heart conditions and stroke.

Retinopathy causes a gradual worsening of vision, floaters in vision, blurriness and eye pain.

Both nephropathy and retinopathy develop over many years but people with diabetes can reduce their risk of getting it, and prevent it worsening if diagnosed.

The authors conclude: “In recently diagnosed T2DM patients, both short and long sleep durations are associated with a higher prevalence of microvascular disease compared to optimal sleep duration at night. 

“Age amplifies the association between short sleep duration and microvascular disease, suggesting increased vulnerability among older individuals.

“Lifestyle changes in patients with type 2 diabetes may include sleep interventions. However, further studies are needed to establish the role of sleep duration and quality in these patients.”