Losing Sleep Triggers Abnormal Glucose Metabolism

According to a new study, Even a small amount of sleep loss can cause changes in hormonal glucose regulation, with a strong effect on pancreatic islet secretion, a decrease in glucagon levels and a slight reduction in C-peptide levels. 

The researchers examined the effect of sleep deprivation on plasma concentrations of hormones involved in glucose metabolism, including insulin, glucagon, C-peptide, ACTH and cortisol levels, before and during a hypoglycemic clamp procedure.  Subjects were assessed during a basal rest period, after one night of sleep deprivation and after one night of regular sleep.

Dr. Schmid's team reports that sleep deprivation was associated with a decrease in basal glucagon levels and, to a lesser degree, C-peptide levels. During the resulting hypoglycemia, "the glucagon increase relative to baseline was enhanced and the relative decrease in C-peptide was reduced. Also, the relative increase in norepinephrine was reduced," the researchers write. Sleep deprivation had no significant effect on the other hormones measured.

"Sleep deprivation markedly increased hunger during basal rest, resulting in a dampened relative increase during hypoglycemia," the research team reports.

"Unexpectedly, despite distinct alterations in basal secretory activity, the absolute amplitude of hormonal counter-regulation and hunger responses to hypoglycemia was not affected by sleep deprivation."

Dr. Schmid and colleagues propose that, "Hunger represents an important warning signal of emerging hypoglycemia, eliciting food intake that counteracts a further decline in circulating glucose levels. A reduced ability to adequately perceive hypoglycemia-triggered increases in hunger that add to the orexigenic impact of sleep loss per se might thus elevate the risk of severe hypoglycemia in these patients under conditions of sleep debt,"

Source: Diabetes In Control: J Clin Endocrin Metab 2007;92:3044-3051