Long sleep duration may be protective against type II diabetes in cancer survivors, according to a study published in Cancer Management and Research.

Sleep duration has cardiometabolic effects, and patients with cancer are at greater risk for developing type II diabetes, and vice versa, but whether there is an effect of habitual sleep duration on type II diabetes risk for survivors of cancer has been unknown.

The researchers examined patient data from 2004 to 2013 from the National Health Interview Survey and categorized patients’ reported habitual sleep durations as short (6 hours or less), long (9 hours or more), or healthy (7 to 8 hours). They performed regression analyses to explore any relationships among cancer, diabetes, and sleep habits.