from PLoS Medicine and Harvard School of Public Health
People who work unusual hours, especially rotating shifts, may be at risk for more than sleep issues. Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that women who work rotating schedules with three or more night shifts per month may increase their risk of type 2 diabetes compared to women who only worked days or evenings. Further, the risk appears to increase with the number of years working rotating shifts. Information for the study came from women in the Nurse’s Health Study. Researchers, writing in the journal PLoS Medicine, say the findings need to be confirmed in men. However, the potential health problem is enormous since it is estimated that fifteen million Americans work evening or night shifts, rotating shifts or other irregular schedules.