A new study has shown that people living in loneliness have a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It further said that the researchers also looked at the fact whether there is a link between depression and insomnia and illness.
Research published in Diabetologia (Journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) [EASD]), Associate Professor Roger E. at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Henriksen and his colleagues.
According to the study, loneliness creates a chronic and sometimes long-lasting distress state that can activate the body’s physiological stress response. Although the exact cause cannot be ascertained, it is understood that T2D develops due to temporary insulin resistance caused by elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Also, due to loneliness, our eating behavior also changes. This leads to an increased appetite for carbohydrates and subsequently increased blood sugar levels.
Previous studies have found an association between loneliness and unhealthy eating, including high consumption of sugary drinks and foods rich in sugar and fat.
Of the 24,024 people who participated in the study, 1,179 (4.9 percent) developed T2D during the study (1995-2019). These individuals were more likely to be male (59 percent versus 44 percent) and had a higher average age (48 years versus 43 years) than those without T2D. They were also more likely to be married (73 percent versus 68 percent) and had the lowest level of education (35 percent versus 23 percent). 13 percent of participants reported feelings of loneliness.
The study found that higher levels of loneliness at baseline were strongly associated with higher risk of T2D when measured 20 years later. After adjusting for age, gender and education level, they found that participants who responded ‘too much’ when asked whether they felt lonely were twice as likely to develop T2D than those who did not. Didn’t feel alone.
Further analysis showed that the presence of depression, sleep onset insomnia or terminal insomnia did not alter this relationship, although the team found evidence of a link to sleep maintenance insomnia.
Although the exact mechanisms involved in their study were not investigated, the researchers note that social support, influence, and connectedness may have positive effects on health-promoting behaviors. For example, the advice and support of a friend can influence a person’s health choices and can positively affect their diet, physical activity level, and overall feelings of stress. Fewer social connections and a lack of these positive influences can make lonely people more vulnerable to behaviors that may increase the risk of developing T2D.
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