Do “night owls” have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than “early birds”?

Sleep timing and circadian rhythm may influence metabolic health. In this episode, we examine research suggesting that people with a late chronotype (“night owls”) may have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and how risk is assessed in Europe.

In this episode, we cover:

• What chronotype is (natural preference for sleep and wake timing)

• How circadian rhythm affects insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism

• Research linking late sleep patterns to metabolic risk

• The role of shift work and social jet lag

• Sleep duration vs sleep timing

• Lifestyle factors: diet timing, physical activity, light exposure

• When blood glucose testing is recommended

• When symptoms suggest undiagnosed diabetes ...