Diabetes link to shift-working

Friday July 25th, 2014

Men who work on shifts face a massively increased risk of developing diabetes, researchers warn today.

A new study links diabetes to shift-working - but finds men are most at risk.

According to the Chinese researchers, shift-working men face a 37% increased risk of developing diabetes - compared with an overall increased risk of 9%.

And workers of both sexes on rotating shifts face a 42% increased risk, according to the report in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

The researchers say the risk of diabetes may be because shift-workers tend to put on weight and suffer from an increased appetite.

The findings come from an analysis of 12 international studies involving more than 226,500 people, of whom 14,600 had diabetes.

Researcher Professor  Zuxun Lu, of Tongii Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhun, Hubei, China, says the findings do not prove that shift-working causes diabetes - but warns the findings are of "considerable public health importance."

He adds: "Rotating shifts make it harder for people to adjust to a regular sleep-wake cycle, and some research has suggested that a lack of sleep, or poor quality sleep, may prompt or worsen insulin resistance."

Shift work and diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of observational studies Occupational & Environmental Medicine 25 July 2014; doi 10.1136/oemed-2014-102150 [abstract]

Tags: Asia | Diabetes | General Health | Men's Health

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