Sleep Extension for Metabolic Health

Recent epidemiological (survey) research, conducted in both in healthy populations and among those with existing chronic disease, shows that insufficient sleep can significantly contribute to ill health (including diabetes, heart disease and obesity). These findings have also been accompanied by credible explanatory mechanisms emphasising the role of sleep in regulating appetite, satiety, glucose and daytime stamina. Sleep extension, therefore, is a largely unexplored pathway for improving individual health, and reducing an existing risk of diabetes. If successful, increased sleep duration and quality could be adopted as an achievable public health intervention.

The study aims to recruit a total of 20 men, overweight, presenting traditional risks of developing diabetes, who are habitually short sleepers. Participants are then randomized, stratified by weight status, to a sleep extension group, or a control sleep monitoring group. Baseline measures include sleep actigraphy, continuous glucose monitoring, blood pressure, and a mixed-meal tolerance test; after the 6-week intervention, the same measures are repeated.

Inclusion criteria

• Age: 25 to 55 years (inclusive)
• Gender: Men
• BMI > 25kg/m2
• Average self-reported sleep duration of ≤ 6h per 24h
• Stable daily sleep/wake schedule
• Health risk screening score ≥ 2

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed sleep disorder as per DSM-5: e.g. insomnia, restless legs syndrome, moderate/severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea; Epworth Sleepiness Score: <5
• Diagnosed chronic conditions, or medication, likely to interfere with regular sleep: T2D, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, COPD, uncontrolled depression/anxiety, other severe psychiatric illness, substance abuse.
• Night/evening shift work , regular time-zone travel, other circumstances preventing regular sleep schedule (e.g. very young children, carer at night for sick relatives etc)