Atlanta Health Alert: Night Owls Risk Diabetes and Early Death. Doctor Explains | Plus

Know this: “If you’re a night owl, it’s time to wise up about your health. Pun intended! This new study continues to support what we’ve known for some time. People who have an evening chronotype have higher risks of unhealthy habits like poor diet and inactivity. Both of these increase your risk of getting diabetes. Unfortunately, in our busy world, some people have to be night owls. As such, I recommend that night owls remain extra vigilant about lifestyle choices. And this includes watching what you eat during those long nights. If you can, stick to a regular sleep schedule, avoid late-night snacks, find time for exercise, and, try to consume heavy servings of vegetables and fiber. Making smart choices can help mitigate your increased diabetes risk if you’re prone to staying up late at night.” Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine.

Beyond the News: Research like this may lead to new guidelines in which the healthcare system may need to consider chronotype when assessing and advising patients about diabetes risk factors.

Key Drivers in DeKalb County:

The study examined whether the increased risk of type 2 diabetes seen in night owls is explained by unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Researchers followed over 63,000 nurses for a period of 8 years.

Night owls had a 54% higher likelihood of unhealthy behaviors like poor diet, inactivity, smoking, and short sleep schedules.

Night owls had a 72% higher risk of developing diabetes than early birds. Interestingly, even after adjusting for demographics and work schedules, the data showed that night owls had a 19% higher diabetes risk–when compared to early birds. This is significant.

The study…