Consistent sleep could be the key to preventing type 2 diabetes.

That’s according to Boston researchers, who found that people with irregular sleep patterns had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who got more consistent sleep.

The study led by Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers looked at sleep patterns over the course of seven nights, and then followed participants for more than seven years.

The Brigham scientists discovered that irregular sleep durations were associated with an increased risk of diabetes. Those with the greatest irregular patterns had a 34% higher diabetes risk than their counterparts, the researchers found.

“Our study identified a modifiable lifestyle factor that can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” said Sina Kianersi, a research fellow in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at the Brigham.

“Our findings underscore the importance of consistent sleep patterns as a strategy to reduce type 2 diabetes,” Kianersi added.

Type 2 diabetes affects close to half a billion people worldwide, and it’s one of the top 10 leading causes of death and disability. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is expected to more than double to 1.3 billion by 2050.

The new study analyzed accelerometry data from more than 84,000 participants in the UK Biobank Study to investigate any possible association between sleep and type 2 diabetes. Participants were an average age of 62 years, and were initially free of diabetes.

They wore accelerometers — devices like watches that monitor movement — for seven nights. The participants were followed for about 7.5 years, tracking diabetes development mostly through medical records.

The researchers found that more irregular sleep duration was associated with higher diabetes risk after adjusting for a wide range of risk factors. Irregular sleep was defined as day-to-day sleep duration varying by more than 60 minutes on average.

The data revealed that compared to participants with regular sleep patterns, those with irregular sleep had a 34% higher risk of developing diabetes. The risk decreased, yet persisted, even after accounting for lifestyle, comorbidities, family history of diabetes, and obesity indicators.

“Our findings have the potential to improve diabetes prevention on multiple levels,” Kianersi said. “Clinically, they might inform better patient care and treatment plans.

“Public health guidelines could promote regular sleep patterns,” the scientist added. “However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanism and confirm the results in other populations.”