Sleep Loss and Circadian Misalignment - Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of timed cortisol release or differently timed cortisol rhythms on insulin resistance in both men and women undergoing sleep restriction. Chronic sleep loss is highly prevalent, affecting 1 in 3 adults in the US. Chronic sleep loss causes stress which induces insulin resistance and leads to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Many factors contribute to sleep loss including shift work, environmental disturbances, sleep/circadian disorders and comorbid medical and mental health conditions. Sleep loss increases the stress hormone cortisol in the evening and decreases daytime testosterone. Examining these hormones in a controlled laboratory environment under different sleep schedules may help researchers find solutions for adults experiencing negative health consequences related to chronic sleep loss.

NCT Number	NCT07494084
Lead Sponsor	Washington State University Collaborators: Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Conditions	Shift Work Schedule, Circadian Rhythm, Insulin Resistance, Circadian Misalignment
Enrollment	48 participants
Start Date	2026-07-01
Primary Completion	2029-03 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-07 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-15