The Importance of Sleep

Busy individuals are so used to depriving themselves of quality sleep just to get things done. I myself is not an exception. Because of too many things to do and with too little time, that is the most appropriate thing to do at the moment.

Coming from a family of diabetics, I am at risk of having one. But with regular exercise, and at the age of 42, I do my best to keep free from the disease. And I can say that so far, I am successful in that aspect. Lately, I read a study conducted by University of Chicago that suppressing deep slow-wave sleep for three consecutive nights increases the risk of having diabetes. So, this I have to work on.

Slow-wave sleep is the deep, restful type occurring at the onset of sleep, that is during the first hour, interrupted periodically by REM sleep, then recurs again. It comprises around 75% of the total sleep time of a young adult. The brain waves at this stage of sleep are very slow, and there is decrease in up to 30% of the blood pressure, respiratory rate, and basal metabolic rate. It is the stage of sleep that restores the normal balance among the neuronal centers.

In the study, it has been found that depriving one's self for three nights of adequate quality sleep decreases insulin sensitivity. This means that the body's ability to process glucose is reduced and thus increase diabetes risk.

See, reduced amounts of deep sleep is really bad. It has been associated with aging, obesity, and metabolic abnormalities. Now, with diabetes. So, I see to it that I don't deprive myself of sleep three nights in a row, even during my busy days. I want to live long enough to see my future grandchildren, or even my great grandchildren.