Increased Napping May Be A Sign Of Diabetes, Researchers Say

Birmingham, United Kingdom (AHN) – British researchers have linked frequent napping in older adults with an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

University of Birmingham researchers said the prevalence of type-2 diabetes was 36 percent higher in older Chinese participants who reported napping four to six times a week, and 28 percent higher in those who napped daily.

The researchers said the results suggest that it is more likely that napping may increase the risk of diabetes, rather than diabetes leading to daytime sleepiness.

But lead author Neil Thomas said in a statement that more research is needed to determine if napping alone contributes to the development of diabetes, or if there are other factors.

For instance, he said napping in China is a social norm starting in childhood. In western countries, those who nap regularly are typically older people or people who have conditions that cause tiredness. In these cases, napping may be a marker for disease, Thomas said.

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