Abstract
Epidemiological investigations reveal a concomitant increase in sleep loss and metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, over the past several decades. An increasing body of scientific evidence indicates that acute sleep loss induces insulin resistance and glucose intolerance profiles similar to those of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Experimentally, cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) supplementation facilitates glucose disposal in healthy humans, which may be achieved by enhancing (1) insulin sensitivity via increased phosphorylation of signaling proteins and (2) insulin-sensitive glucose transporter 4-mediated glucose uptake into muscle cells. Because peripheral insulin resistance is primarily a consequence of reduced muscle insulin sensitivity, C. cassia and C. cassia extracts may attenuate insulin resistance and glucose intolerance observed following sleep loss.