Health benefits of sleep to be unveiled during live online event

A Facebook Live video session taking place next week will look at the positive health impact of consistent, uninterrupted sleep in people with type 2 diabetes.

Dr Andrew Hall, Consultant at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, and Tatiana Plekhanova, Research Assistant at the University of Leicester, will highlight how getting more than eight hours and less than six hours of sleep every night negatively impacts HbA1c.

Taking place on Tuesday, July 25, at 4pm, the online event will also outline how irregular sleep results in poorer glycaemic levels.

Additional information surrounding the benefits of sleep will also be provided during the Facebook Live.

These findings are part of the Leicester Diabetes Centre’s (LDC) five S’s concept, which was developed as a key part of the 2022 consensus report from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

In an educational infographic, the LDC team has highlighted five important health behaviours –

sitting, stepping, sweating, strengthening and sleep – that people living with diabetes should be aware of to help them better manage their condition.

Dr Hall said: “Join me in this upcoming Facebook Live session as we delve into the incredible power of consistent, uninterrupted sleep and its profound impact on people with type 2 diabetes.

“I am honoured to be hosting this event as it is an opportunity to share my passion and knowledge on the power of uninterrupted sleep.”

He added: “It is a topic close to my heart as I have witnessed the health benefits that good quality sleep can have on an individual’s overall wellbeing.

“This session is your invitation to discover the incredible health outcomes that lie within a good night’s rest, so mark your calendars and invite your friends.”

This free-to-attend Facebook event is the fourth session in a series of live videos looking at the five S’s. 

Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Co-Director of LDC, kickstarted the five S’s Facebook live series in February with a general look at the impact of physical behaviours on the health of people living with type 2 diabetes. The previous sessions can be found on the LDC Facebook page to watch back.

“We know that regular exercise is very important for people living with type 2 diabetes,” said Professor Davies CBE.

She added: “However, other behaviours that over the course a day are vital too. Over 24 hours, we spend time sitting, sleeping, walking and exercising.

“All of these activities affect our health. We should all be aware of how important the whole day is when talking about our activity levels and our health.”

LDC is answering the global challenge of type 2 diabetes and long-term conditions through world-leading research, education and innovation.

Based at Leicester General Hospital, the 3,000m2 centre is a unique collaboration between the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Founded in 2012, the centre is home to the award-winning DESMOND and EDEN programmes; that ensure the findings of LDC’s innovative research continues to achieve impact beyond the research setting.

For more information, click here.