To Nap or Not?

This study does not definitively prove, of course, that napping leads to Type 2 diabetes or any other health condition; many factors could be responsible for the results. In any observational study such as this one, there is no way to know whether researchers adjusted for all of the existing factors that could both lead someone to nap longer and raise his or her risk of prediabetes or diabetes. Any undetected and undiagnosed metabolic condition, for example, that led to both longer napping and a higher diabetes risk would be missed. When studying napping, however, it is virtually impossible to design a study that eliminates this possibility for error — most people cannot simply take a nap for as long as researchers tell them to, as would be needed for a randomized controlled trial on napping to be successful. Based on this study, though, it is conceivable that longer naps could disrupt sleep patterns and lead to metabolic changes that increase a person's risk of developing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. What do you think — could napping be hazardous to your health, or is it more likely that unhealthy people simply nap for longer periods? Have you ever noticed changes in your eating or exercise habits that seemed to follow changes in your sleep or napping patterns? Have you slept or napped more, or less, since you developed diabetes? Is there a right or wrong way to nap? Leave a comment below! ------------------------ Copyright (C) 2013 R.A. Rapaport Publishing, ...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs