Dim lights before bedtime to reduce risk of gestational diabetes

Medical Xpress / Northwestern University / American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM ^ | March 10, 2023 | Dr. Minjee Kim et al

[ConservativeMind]

Pregnant persons should dim the lights in their home and turn off or at least dim their screens (computer monitors and smartphones) a few hours before bedtime to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, a new study shows.

Women who developed gestational diabetes mellitus in the multi-site study had greater light exposure in the three hours before sleep onset. They did not differ in their light exposure during daytime or sleep or in their activity levels compared to those who did not develop it.

Growing evidence suggests exposure to light at night before bedtime may be linked to impaired glucose regulation in non-pregnant adults.

Gestational diabetes is on the rise in the U.S. and globally. In 2020, the rate of gestational diabetes was 7.8% of all births in the U.S.

"It's alarming," Kim said. "Gestational diabetes is known to increase obstetric complications, and the mother's risk of diabetes, heart disease and dementia. The offspring also are more likely to have obesity and hypertension as they grow up."

Data show that women who have gestational diabetes are nearly 10 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to those do not have glucose issues during pregnancy, Kim said.

Bright light exposure prior to sleep can come from bright lights in your home and from devices like TVs, computers and smartphones.

Pre-sleep light exposure may affect glucose metabolism through sympathetic overactivity, meaning the heart rate goes up before bed when it should go down. "It seems there is inappropriate activation of the fight or flight response when it is time to rest," Kim said.

Data shows the sympathetic overactivity may lead to cardiometabolic disease, which is a cluster of conditions including abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, increased blood pressure and an imbalance of lipids, all leading to cardiovascular disease.

[ConservativeMind]

This probably has an effect on all of us, and not just pregnant women.

My wife and I find having generally dim lighting in the evening helps us get to sleep. We also have the red light shift happen on our computing devices, while dimming those, too.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Red Badger]

Pregnant persons.....................stopped reading right there......................

[EvilCapitalist]

Pregnant Persons? Does the writer of the article mean Pregnant Women?

[EvilCapitalist]

You saw that too, eh?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

“Pregnant persons.”

No need to read further when the first two words reveal a science-denier.

[I want the USA back]

“Pregnant persons”

Translation: women.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

When I was reading the article, I thought the same thing -- "why just pregnant women"? (note the use of "pregnant persons" as the very first two words. Ugh.)

Pre-sleep light exposure may affect glucose metabolism through sympathetic overactivity, meaning the heart rate goes up before bed when it should go down. "It seems there is inappropriate activation of the fight or flight response when it is time to rest," Kim said.

Data shows the sympathetic overactivity may lead to cardiometabolic disease, which is a cluster of conditions including abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, increased blood pressure and an imbalance of lipids, all leading to cardiovascular disease.

[Red Badger]

Any writer that uses that phrase in relation to females of the species, is an idiot.....................

[EvilCapitalist]

Agreed.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thanks C.M.!