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Shift work seems to increase the risk of developing diabetes, according to a meta-analysis of 12 studies involving 226,652 participants.

In men, shift work increased the risk of diabetes by 37 per cent compared to 9 per cent in women. Both increases were statistically significant.

All shift work patterns, except mixed shifts and evening shifts, increased diabetes risk compared to normal daytime schedules. However, the risk of diabetes was highest with rotating patterns (42 per cent increase) in which the shift time varied.

The mechanisms that underlie these links and the differences between men and women require further investigation.