Patna: Health experts have cautioned that excessive screen exposure before sleep — particularly from smartphones — may significantly increase the risk of high blood sugar and Type 2 diabetes, adding to growing concerns about lifestyle-driven metabolic disorders.
Diabetes, a chronic metabolic condition, develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin or fails to use it effectively, leading to rising glucose levels. While diet and inactivity remain key triggers, researchers say screen use at night is emerging as a crucial but overlooked risk factor.
How blue light disrupts blood sugar regulation
Using screens late at night exposes the eyes to blue light, a wavelength known to suppress melatonin, the hormone that signals the body to prepare for sleep. When melatonin levels drop, the stress hormone cortisol increases — a shift that can impair glucose control.
This disruption, experts say, promotes insulin resistance, a major driver of Type 2 diabetes.
What melatonin does
Melatonin regulates the body’s sleep–wake cycle. According to medical researchers, when screens trick the brain into believing it is still daytime, melatonin production falls sharply. Poor melatonin levels degrade sleep quality, which in turn affects the body’s ability to manage insulin.
Studies from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases show that inadequate sleep itself can elevate blood sugar levels, making glucose regulation far more difficult.
What research shows
A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that even minimal exposure to night-time light could raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes, regardless of total sleep hours. Night-time light exposure activates the nervous system and keeps the body in a state of alertness, disrupting its natural glucose-processing rhythm.
Doctors warn that chronic sleep deficits caused by late-night scrolling may reduce insulin sensitivity over time, potentially contributing to obesity, diabetes and conditions such as PCOS.
Women may experience disrupted fertility and hormonal imbalance, while men could face declining testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction, researchers noted.
A wider impact on health
Experts say the cumulative effect of late-night screen habits can be harmful, especially for young adults whose screen time continues to rise. As digital lifestyles deepen, health professionals call for limiting phone use at least one hour before bedtime.
“Sleep is a pillar of metabolic health. Disrupting it repeatedly through blue light exposure can push the body toward insulin resistance,” a senior endocrinologist said.
(Disclaimer: This report provides general information based on medical research. Readers should consult a healthcare professional before making changes to their health routines.)
