A six-year study suggests that longer sleep is associated with a higher risk of kidney disease developing or progressing in people with type 2 diabetes, although it does not prove that sleep causes the damage.
Longer sleep may be a warning sign for worsening kidney health in people with type 2 diabetes, according to research from Juntendo University in Japan published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. The study followed 678 adults with type 2 diabetes and found that those who slept longer were more likely to develop kidney disease or see existing disease progress, although the findings do not show that sleeping less would protect the kidneys.
The researchers tracked participants for an average of about six years and asked about lifestyle habits at the start of the study and again after two and five years. During that period, 215 people developed new kidney disease or experienced a worsening of their condition. Sleep duration was the only lifestyle factor in the analysis that was linked to this combined outcome, while other habits measured by the team did not show the same pattern.
Compared with people who slept less than six hours a night, the estimated risk rose among those sleeping six to under seven hours, seven to under eight hours, and at least eight hours. The Japanese team reported that the association was stronger in older participants and in those whose kidneys already showed early signs of trouble, including reduced filtration and small amounts of albumin in the urine. Albumin leakage can be an early signal that the kidneys’ filters are starting to fail.
Even so, the study cannot prove that longer sleep causes kidney problems. It is also possible that poorer health led to longer sleep, or that another factor influenced both sleep and kidney function. The Endocrine Society said the findings suggest sleep duration could help identify people who may need closer attention to kidney health, but the research does not establish a direct cause-and-effect link. Similar studies, including work from the Fukuoka Diabetes Registry and later research in the UK Biobank, have also suggested that both short and long sleep may be tied to kidney and other complications in type 2 diabetes.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
