Chronic sleep loss and shift work disrupt hormone regulation and metabolism, and increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). While sleep loss is highly prevalent today, effective lifestyle-based countermeasures are currently limited.

Emerging research suggests that diet plays a key role in regulating sleep. However, it’s unclear how this also applies to T2D, varies by sex, or how this can impact cardiometabolic responses to sleep loss during shift work.

To explore these questions, I will conduct two studies:
1. A clinical trial in individuals with and without T2D, to test whether a healthier compared with an unhealthier diets improve SWS and metabolic responses during simulated overnight shift work.
2. A real-world study of healthcare workers to track diet, sleep, and metabolism. The goal will be to examine how diet impacts the metabolic response to night shift work.

By uncovering how diet can improve sleep and metabolism, especially in those with T2D, my research will aim to provide new insights for improving public health guidelines.