Daytime Naps Could Be Warning Sign for Type-2 Diabetes

Long naps of more than an hour during the day could be a warning sign for type-2 diabetes, according to a new study by Japanese researchers.

The link was discovered by the researchers at the University of Tokyo while analysing observational studies involving more than 300,000 people. Their findings will be presented at a meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Munich.

Specifically, their research found that people who napped for more than an hour during the day had a 45% greater risk of type-2 diabetes than those who didn't take daytime naps. Interestingly, no link was found with naps of less than 40 minutes.

UK experts have said that individuals with undiagnosed diabetes and other long-term illnesses often feel tired during the day.

However, they also said there is no evidence at present to suggest that napping during the day increases a person's risk of developing diabetes.

One possible explanation is that sleep deprivation, caused by busy work schedules and/or social commitments, potentially leads to increased appetite, which in turn could increase the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Commenting on the researchers' findings, Naveed Sattar, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: "It's likely that risk factors which lead to diabetes also cause napping. This could include slightly high sugar levels, meaning napping may be an early warning sign of diabetes."