Seven hours of sleep linked to better blood sugar regulation
News briefs
- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Experts have long said we should aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night to stay alert and ward off health problems tied to sleep deprivation. A study published in the March 2026 issue of BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care reinforces that advice by suggesting that sleeping for around seven hours on weeknights is linked to better blood sugar regulation.
Researchers examined data from 23,475 people who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (51% men, ages 20 to 80). Participants reported how long they typically slept on weekdays and weekends. Researchers then estimated their insulin sensitivity - how efficiently cells respond to insulin and absorb sugar from the bloodstream - using a measure called estimated glucose disposal rate. This value is calculated from a formula using waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels; a higher rate generally reflects better insulin sensitivity.
Researchers found that sleeping about 7.3 hours on weeknights was associated with better insulin sensitivity than shorter or longer sleep periods. For participants whose weeknight sleep fell short, up to two hours of extra sleep on weekends - but no longer - enabled them to also achieve better insulin sensitivity.
Image: © Galina Zhigalova/Getty Images
About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
