The Shocking Sleep Factor Damaging Your Blood Vessels

When it comes to long-term health, few things impact your body as profoundly as blood sugar management.

But one particularly concerning effect that doesn’t get enough attention?

Chronically high blood sugar can destroy your blood vessels.

It’s one of the main reasons why type 2 diabetes increases your risk of heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and more.

• Damaged blood vessels encourage plaque buildup, increasing heart disease risk.
• Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys leads to kidney disease.
• Damage to blood vessels in the retina leads to vision loss.

The consequences are profound and far-reaching.

Unfortunately, diet alone won’t protect your blood vessels.

In fact, scientists have just uncovered another surprising factor driving blood vessel damage in type 2 diabetics.

A recent study included people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for 3.5 years with an average age of 62.

Researchers wanted to determine sleep duration’s impact on microvascular damage (dysfunction in the tiny blood vessels, including arteries, arterioles, venules, and capillaries).

The findings were striking. Folks who didn’t get enough sleep had a 2.6 times higher risk of developing microvascular damage, and those who got too much sleep had a 2.3 times higher risk compared to those who slept an optimal amount.

In addition, the risks associated with too little sleep increased with age.

In those under 62, lack of sleep only increased the risk of microvascular damage by 23 percent. But in those over 62, lack of sleep was associated with a 5.7 times increased risk, compared to those getting the optimal amount.

Previous research supports these findings. Not getting the optimal amount of sleep impairs endothelial function and metabolism, causes inflammation, and increases blood pressure.

In fact, one study showed that after only six weeks of not getting enough sleep, the cells that line your blood vessels become flooded with oxidants that cause damage.

This is true for diabetics AND non-diabetics.

Whether you have diabetes or not, it’s time to start prioritizing quality sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night to protect your blood vessels and improve your overall health.

P.S. The proven path to better sleep after 60.

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Presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) (Madrid, September 9-13, 2024)