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Research has shown that pregnant women who are exposed to more light right before sleep have an increased risk of developing diabetes. In order to reduce the risk of diabetes, pregnant women should avoid the habit of turning on a sleeping light or looking at a smartphone before going to bed.
Minji Kim, a researcher at Northwestern University in the United States, published a study in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology on the 10th (local time) that pregnant women who are exposed to light for a longer period of time for three hours before sleeping increase the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy. .
According to previous studies, light exposed at night suppresses the production of a hormone called melatonin in our body. Melatonin, which is associated with various immune systems, plays a role in regulating the biological clock for the smooth functioning of each body function. It also affects the control of blood sugar levels, which is important for the prevention of diabetes.
According to the British Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, diabetes in pregnant women can affect the baby during childbirth. Gestational diabetes increases the chances of a caesarean section and can put more stress on the baby during delivery. It also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in babies born.
The research team conducted an experiment to determine whether suppression of melatonin production by light exposure at night affects the risk of developing diabetes in pregnant women. From 2011 to 2013, 741 pregnant women in the US who were 15 to 28 weeks pregnant were asked to wear a light sensor on their wrist and write a sleep diary for one week.
Participants in the experiment were divided into three groups according to the amount of time they were exposed to light three hours before going to bed. The analysis found that 16 of 247 women who were exposed to dim light for 1.7 to 2.2 hours before sleeping developed gestational diabetes. Among the total participants, 12 women who were exposed to light for 2.2 to 2.6 hours just before sleep and 3 women who were exposed to light for 2.6 to 3 hours also developed gestational diabetes. It has been confirmed that exposure to dim light from electronic devices, such as sleeping lights or smart phone lights, increases the risk of developing diabetes.
The research team explained, “The group with the least exposure to light before sleep was five times more likely to develop diabetes than the group with the longest exposure to light.” The results of this study were derived considering variables such as the age of the pregnant woman, the quality and duration of sleep, and body mass index (BMI), he added.
Professor Kim, who led the study, advised, “You should keep away from lighting on electronic devices, including the screen of your smartphone, 3 hours before bedtime,” and “at least turn the screen dark or switch to night mode.” In addition, in order to prevent gestational diabetes, it was emphasized that attention should be paid to overall lifestyle, such as weight management, maintaining a healthy diet, and maintaining exercise.