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A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects
Within-subject study in nine healthy adults: after one night restricted to ~4 h sleep versus normal sleep, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp showed ~25% lower glucose infusion rate (P=0.001), lower peripheral glucose disposal (P=0.009), and higher endogenous glucose production during hyperinsulinemia (P=0.017), consistent with hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance.
Design
- Within-subject comparisons in nine healthy adults (5 M / 4 F)
- Sleep: normal (~7.5 h in bed) vs partial restriction (~4 h in bed) one night each, separated by washout
- Metabolic tests: hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp with stable-isotope endogenous glucose production measures
Headline clamp outcomes (abstract)
- Glucose infusion rate: ~25% lower after sleep restriction (P = 0.001)
- Peripheral glucose disposal: lower after restriction (P = 0.009)
- Endogenous glucose production during hyperinsulinemia: higher after restriction (P = 0.017) — interpreted as hepatic insulin resistance
Evidence hygiene
- Acute, single-night physiology—pair with week-long sleep restriction clamp trials (e.g. Buxton 2010) when reasoning about chronic short sleep and diabetes risk.
Publication
Donga E, van Dijk M, van Dijk JG, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun;95(6):2963-2968. PMID 20371664.
Outcomes
- Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp: glucose infusion rate ~25% lower after one night of ~4 h sleep vs normal sleep (P=0.001; n=9 healthy adults).
- Peripheral glucose disposal lower (P=0.009) and endogenous glucose production during hyperinsulinemia higher (P=0.017) after partial sleep deprivation vs control night.