The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Resistance: A Narrative Review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Insufficient sleep is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable factor in metabolic health. Controlled human studies suggest that sleep loss can impair insulin sensitivity and disturb glucose regulation, including in individuals without diagnosed metabolic disease. This narrative review examines evidence concerning acute partial sleep deprivation, repeated sleep restriction, recurrent cycles of restriction and recovery, sleep variability, and circadian misalignment in relation to glucose metabolism and insulin action. Experimental findings indicate that metabolic changes may develop rapidly, in some cases after a single night of partial sleep deprivation. Repeated or chronic sleep restriction has likewise been associated with impaired insulin sensitivity, while recurrent restriction-andrecovery patterns may disturb glucose homeostasis despite intermittent recovery opportunities. However, increasing sleep duration does not consistently reverse insulin resistance once metabolic dysfunction is established. The magnitude of these effects varies across studies according to sleep protocols, participant characteristics, baseline metabolic status, circadian timing, sleep regularity, and methods used to assess insulin sensitivity. Potential mechanisms are likely multifactorial and may involve autonomic and neuroendocrine dysregulation, inflammatory signaling, circadian disruption, tissue-specific alterations in insulin action, and behavioral changes affecting energy balance. Overall, current evidence supports adequate and regular sleep as an important component of metabolic health. However, uncertainty remains regarding individual susceptibility, long-term clinical consequences, and the extent to which established metabolic impairment can be reversed through sleep improvement.
Institutions: Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny w Opolu, University of Opole
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220447183