People who work shifts may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The risk is highest among men and those who work rotating shift patterns.
In the new review, researchers analyzed data from 12 international studies involving more than 226,500 people. Medics, police officers and firefighters who do not work normal office hours are more likely to develop the condition, according to the research published in journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The study, led by Zuxun Lu of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, took several factors into account, such as workers' shift schedules, their body mass index (BMI, a calculation of height and weight), family history of diabetes and their level of physical activity.
According to the study, irregular work hours make it more difficult for the body to establish a sleep-wake cycle, and poor sleep may worsen insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.
The researchers said: "The result suggests that male shift workers should pay more attention to the prevention of of diabetes.
"Given the increasing prevalence of shift work worldwide and the heavy economic burden of diabetes, the results of our study provide practical and valuable clues for the prevention of diabetes."
"Shift workers should be educated about diabetes symptoms in an effort to forestall or avert the earliest clinical manifestations of disease," Prof Zuxun Lu told the BBC.
"Improved shift modifying strategies should be implemented into the company's management scheme to effectively protect shift worker from diabetes.
"Finally, the increased risk of diabetes apparent in rotating shift group and male shift workers, suggests that people who do shift work should pay more attention to the prevention of diabetes."
