Skip to main content

Sleep-Related Metabolic Damage

Meaning

Sleep-related metabolic damage describes the adverse physiological consequences that accrue from chronic sleep deprivation or severe sleep-disordered breathing, leading to profound disturbances in metabolic and hormonal homeostasis. This damage is characterized by a systemic shift toward insulin resistance, increased circulating inflammatory markers, and dysregulation of appetite-regulating hormones like leptin and ghrelin. The clinical impact includes increased risk for type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease. Adequate sleep is therefore recognized as a fundamental pillar of metabolic health and endocrine balance.