Circadian System and Glucose Metabolism: Implications for Physiology and Disease

The circadian system serves one of the most fundamental properties present in nearly all organisms: it generates 24-h rhythms in behavioral and physiological processes and enables anticipating and adapting to daily environmental changes. Recent studies indicate that the circadian system is important in regulating the daily rhythm in glucose metabolism. Disturbance of this circadian control or of its coordination relative to the environmental/behavioral cycle, such as in shift work, eating late, or due to genetic changes, results in disturbed glucose control and increased type 2 diabetes risk. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying glucose regulation by the circadian system and its disturbance may help in the development of therapeutic interventions against the deleterious health consequences of circadian disruption.

TrendsMany aspects of modern lifestyle, including shift work, social jet lag, disturbed/short sleep, light at night, and late eating have been associated with increased risk for adverse metabolic consequences, including type 2 diabetes.Misalignment of (specific) behavioral/environmental cycles relative to the circadian system results in adverse metabolic consequences and thus may provide a mechanism underlying the aforementioned associations.Recent human studies suggest a dominating role for the circadian system in the daily variation in glucose tolerance, independent of behaviors.Determining the relative role and optimal use of different behavioral/environmental interventions (e.g., timing of food, sleep, activity, and light) will be important in developing approaches in the prevention and treatment of circadian disruption and its adverse metabolic consequences.