Patna: Health specialists have warned that scrolling through phones or using digital screens late at night may significantly raise the risk of high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes, as blue light interferes with the body’s hormonal balance and sleep cycle.
Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder, occurs when the body fails to regulate blood glucose due to inadequate insulin production or improper insulin use. Experts say lifestyle habits — especially poor sleep triggered by excessive screen time — are now major contributors to the rising burden of the disease.
How blue light disrupts glucose control
Using smartphones, tablets or laptops before bed exposes the eyes to blue light, which suppresses melatonin — the hormone responsible for regulating sleep.
When melatonin drops, the body experiences heightened alertness, leading to an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone. Elevated cortisol interferes with how the body processes glucose, potentially causing:
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impaired insulin response
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higher blood sugar levels
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increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Sleep researchers warn that long-term disruption of the sleep–wake cycle may push the body into a state of persistent stress, making glucose regulation increasingly difficult.
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is the hormone that signals the body to prepare for sleep.
Blue light tricks the brain into believing it is still daytime, preventing melatonin production and reducing sleep quality.
Poor sleep has been shown to weaken insulin function, leaving the body less capable of managing glucose. Research from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests that chronic sleep deprivation raises blood sugar and disrupts metabolic processes.
What the studies say
A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that night-time light exposure increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, even among people who slept for adequate hours.
The researchers concluded that artificial light keeps the nervous system in a state of alertness, raising stress hormones and blood sugar.
Doctors note that people who habitually spend long hours on screens at night may develop poor insulin sensitivity, increasing their chances of obesity, diabetes and conditions such as PCOS.
Women may experience hormonal imbalance and fertility issues, while men may see a drop in testosterone or sexual health difficulties linked to poor sleep patterns.
