


Sticking to a consistent sleep schedule is the best way to regulate the body’s clock. It could also throw off your internal body clock and possibly lead to insomnia on Sunday night. And contrary to popular belief, sleeping an extra hour or two on the weekends cannot make up for the lost sleep you may have experienced over the course of a busy week. Less insulin is released after you eat, and that, along with the increased cortisol, may lead to too much glucose in the bloodstream and thus an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.Įveryone is different, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. In addition, skimping on sleep seems to throw other hormones out of whack. Poor sleep can lead to an increase in the body’s production of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. During sleep, the body secretes hormones that help control appetite, metabolism, and glucose processing. They’re so interconnected that each of them needs to be a priority, she adds.Ĭhronic poor sleep puts us at increased risk of serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. “Sleep, along with diet and exercise, constitutes the very foundation of good health.” “As a society, as families and individuals, we have not yet fully appreciated the importance of sleep,” says Terry Cralle, RN, a certified clinical sleep educator based in Fairfax, Virginia. And if you make it a habit, not sleeping enough can have severe consequences on your health. While an occasional lack of sleep may not seem like a big deal, its impact can be intense and its effects can linger. All-night study sessions, important business deals, new babies - most people will experience a taste of sleep deprivation at some point in life.
