Sleeper hold

Sleep.

???It's something college students wish they had more of -- and for good reason.

???A recent study conducted at UB shows individuals who receive an inadequate amount of sleep each night have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over individuals who receive the recommended amount of sleep during the workweek.

???The findings are based on measurements of the participants' blood glucose levels. Researchers found that the participants who received fewer hours of sleep showed signs of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) levels, which indicate pre-diabetes.

???"Even after we established other risk factors, such as family history and age, we found that individuals who slept less than six hours nightly were 4.5 times more likely to develop IFG levels when compared to those who received six to eight hours," said Lisa B. Rafalson, a National Research Service Award Fellow and research assistant professor in the department of social and preventative medicine.

???According to the National Sleep Foundation, seven to eight hours of sleep a night is suggested for a healthy lifestyle.

???Normal glucose levels are less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), IFG levels are between 100 and 125 mg/dl and diabetes glucose levels are over 125 mg/dl, according to Rafalson.

???There are a variety of reasons, related to the nervous system and hormone function that explain why diabetes develops in those individuals who do not receive the recommended amount of sleep. Rafalson explained that based on numerous studies, there is a correlation between the lack of sleep and illness.

???Randall D. Shortridge, associate professor of biological sciences, agrees that the lack of sleep causes the human body's systems to get out of balance, which leads to the development of disease, such as Type 2 diabetes.

???"The best preventative measure is to get a lot of rest and reduce stress in one's life," Shortridge said.

???Maintaining a proper body weight through diet and exercise, and getting an adequate amount of sleep are all ways of preventing Type 2 diabetes.

???Participants in this study were from Erie and Niagara counties. The participants' baseline tests were conducted between 1996 and 2001 with follow-up tests conducted between February 2003 and September 2004.

???The participants were divided into three different groups based on the amount of sleep they received during the workweek between Sunday and Thursday nights. Rafalson noted that the short sleepers received less than six hours a night, long sleepers had more than eight hours of sleep per night and lastly the reference group slept six-to-eight hours nightly.

???Rafalson hopes that further studies and additional research into this complex matter will clarify the mechanisms related to sleep and heath.