How Sleep and Body Clock Problems May Affect Energy Use and Diabetes

Key principles for research on the effects of sleep and circadian disruption on energy balance and diabetes were identified at a workshop.

• Collaboration between sleep/circadian researchers and metabolism/diabetes investigators may enhance studies in this field.
• There is a need to translate findings from basic research into practical improvements for metabolic health.
• Future studies should expand beyond insulin and glucose measurements to include more comprehensive phenotyping.
• Assessments of sleep, circadian rhythms, and sleep-disordered breathing should be integrated into diabetes risk cohort studies.
• Chronic adaptations to sleep disruption could occur, necessitating further exploration of their underlying mechanisms.
• Research opportunities include investigating whether CPAP treatment for obstructive sleep apnea can prevent diabetes onset and whether time-restricted eating impacts obesity rates in humans as it does in mice.

Simplified