A good night’s sleep is one of the most important factors of keeping healthy and feeling great. Inadequate sleep may lead to many health problems. A recent study reveals that lack of sleep may be a cause of diabetes, report suntimes. According to the report

Researchers have identified a possible new risk factor for diabetes: not getting a good night’s sleep.

In a small study, University of Chicago researchers tested the theory on nine healthy young adults in a sleep lab.

For three nights, researchers prevented volunteers from getting the deepest and most restorative type of sleep.

Afterward, volunteers’ bodies did not use insulin as well as before: they needed more insulin to dispose of the same amount of a sugar solution.

This reduced insulin sensitivity was comparable to the effect of gaining 20 or 30 pounds.

Earlier studies found that not getting enough sleep can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.

The U. of C. study is the first to suggest that not getting the right kind of sleep also could increase diabetes risk.

Obesity and aging are two big risk factors for diabetes. Obesity and aging also reduce sleep quality, further increasing the risk of diabetes