--- title: Sleep and Diabetes: Being a Night Owl Linked to Depression description: Night owls with type 2 diabetes are likelier to report depression symptoms than those who get up and go to bed early. canonical: https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-04-07T14:46:25.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T08:44:48.301Z article:section: Health og:title: Being a Night Owl Is Linked to Depression og:description: People with type 2 diabetes may be especially at risk og:url: https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c203f712632bd33/6988b6f90b72e304336ec624/good-quality-sleep.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4689 og:image:height: 2638 og:image:alt: Portrait of woman sleeping in bed og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Being a Night Owl Is Linked to Depression twitter:description: People with type 2 diabetes may be especially at risk twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c203f712632bd33/6988b6f90b72e304336ec624/good-quality-sleep.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 01:53 video:published: 2017-03-06 section: health topics: late-night snacks, sugar cravings, healthy desserts, weight loss, cottage cheese, cinnamon and blood sugar, apple dessert, protein intake genre: lifestyle segment, cooking demonstration, interview tones: upbeat, casual, persuasive, friendly emotions: enthusiasm (medium), amusement (medium), skepticism (low), satisfaction (low) sentiment: positive audience: health-conscious viewers, people with sweet tooth cravings, dieters, general lifestyle audience people: Nagina organizations: TIME, GEICO products: cottage cheese, apples, cinnamon transcript_source: automatic transcription transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Being a Night Owl Is Linked to Depression > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=de91c4da-baae-41df-8220-57d2492ec23b&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=de91c4da-baae-41df-8220-57d2492ec23b&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=de91c4da-baae-41df-8220-57d2492ec23b&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=de91c4da-baae-41df-8220-57d2492ec23b&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Try This Healthy, Cheap Late-Night Snack MONEY [Watch (HLS stream): Try This Healthy, Cheap Late-Night Snack MONEY](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ssv2NfLc.m3u8) (1:53)  _Published 2017-03-06. Here is a healthy and cheap snack to satisfy your sweet tooth._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary A health and weight loss coach, Nagina, demonstrates a cheap, healthy late-night dessert made from cottage cheese, apples and cinnamon. She argues it satisfies sweet cravings and can be eaten as a substitute for ice cream. The segment ends with the host and coach agreeing it tastes like apple pie without the downsides. ## Key points - Nagina says it is possible to make a snack or dessert that satisfies late-night cravings for chocolate or ice cream and curbs sugar cravings. (00:10) - The dessert combines cottage cheese, apples and cinnamon, and is described as the next best thing to ice cream. (00:25) - Cottage cheese is described as protein packed, with about 17 grams of protein per serving and very low calories. (00:25) - Apples are used to add sweetness, likened to grandma's apple pie. (00:25) - Cinnamon is said to help stabilize blood sugar, and Nagina claims that results in storing less fat. (00:25) - Nagina says elevated blood sugar gets stored as fat, and adding cinnamon helps prevent that. (01:08) - Nagina says spices added to food can make a difference in weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. (00:59) - The coach describes the finished dessert as an apple pie with all the good stuff and none of the bad stuff. (01:40) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:33] Introducing a healthy late-night dessert idea. The coach introduces the idea of a healthy dessert that satisfies sweet cravings like ice cream. - [00:33 to 01:08] Ingredients and their claimed benefits. Cottage cheese, apples and cinnamon are presented with their claimed nutritional and blood sugar effects. - [01:08 to 01:53] Tasting and closing remarks. The dessert is mixed and tasted, and the participants compare it to apple pie and ice cream. ## Key quotes - [00:25] Nagina: "And this will make you feel like you're eating ice cream." - [00:25] Nagina: "It's the next best thing to ice cream." - [01:08] Nagina: "The cinnamon helps you keep your blood sugar low and so when your blood sugar is elevated what happens is it gets stored as fat" - [01:40] Nagina: "It's an apple pie with all the good stuff and none of the bad stuff." - [01:26] Interviewer: "I don't believe that this could possibly replace my beloved ice cream." ## Questions this video answers - What healthy snack can satisfy late-night cravings for sweets? [00:10] - What ingredients are used in the healthy apple cinnamon dessert? [00:25] - How much protein does cottage cheese provide per serving in this recipe? [00:25] - How does cinnamon supposedly help with weight loss? [00:25] - Can spices affect weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight? [00:59] - Can this dessert replace ice cream? [01:26] by [Amanda MacMillan / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Amanda MacMillan / Health.com Contributor Apr 7, 2017 2:46 PM UTC Here is a healthy and cheap snack to satisfy your sweet tooth. by [Amanda MacMillan / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Amanda MacMillan / Health.com Contributor Apr 7, 2017 2:46 PM UTC People who prefer to sleep late in the morning and stay up late at night have a higher-than-average risk of depression—a link that may be especially risky for people who have type 2 diabetes, since the two diseases are already so intertwined. The new study, which was presented this week at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Orlando and has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, analyzed questionnaires about mood, [sleep quality](http://www.health.com/sleep), and time preferences from 476 people in Chicago and Thailand who have diabetes. (The researchers wanted to include two different geographic locations, since sleep-wake preferences can vary based on distance to the equator.) In both groups of participants, people who had a later [chronotype](http://www.health.com/mind-body/how-to-get-more-energy-chronotype)—those who preferred to stay up late and do activities in the evening—[reported more depression symptoms](https://plan.core-apps.com/tristar%5Fendo17/abstract/9f6300891abea35983bbd25dffe50c8f) than those with early chronotypes. This was true even after the researchers adjusted for sleep quality, age, gender, and other factors that could affect depression rates. The findings are important because depression is common in patients with [diabetes](http://www.health.com/type-2-diabetes), says lead investigator Sirimon Reutrakul, MD, associate professor at Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine in Thailand. What’s more, untreated [depression](http://www.health.com/depression) can make it harder for people to manage their diabetes, she adds, and can contribute to poor self-care, poor [blood glucose](http://www.health.com/type-2-diabetes/high-blood-sugar-symptoms) control, and diabetes complications. The study was not able to prove a cause-and-effect relationship in either direction, and Dr. Reutrakul says the association between depression and chronotype was “only modest.” But she says the findings do support a link between circadian regulation and psychological functioning in people with diabetes. Learning more about this relationship might help doctors develop strategies to improve mental and physical health in patients with diabetes, Dr. Reutrakul adds. For example, future studies could investigate whether treatments for circadian imbalances—like light therapy and melatonin—might also be helpful for managing depression symptoms. But for people with diabetes who are natural night owls, Dr. Reutrakul says it’s unclear whether forcing a change in sleep patterns is a good idea. “I think everyone has their own timing, and it remains to be seen whether going to bed earlier and waking up earlier would help,” she says. For now, she adds, it’s helpful for people with diabetes to simply be aware of the association, and to know that a later chronotype is another risk factor for depression. The study also found that poor sleep quality was also associated with more depression symptoms, which is something that both early birds and night owls can work to improve. “Getting [adequate, regular sleep](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20407230,00.html), and being consistent in terms of sleep timing, is a good idea no matter what,” she says. _This_ [_article_](http://www.health.com/type-2-diabetes/diabetes-depression-night-owls) _originally appeared on_ [_Health.com_](http://health.com/?xid=time) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/"},"headline":"Being a Night Owl Is Linked to Depression","datePublished":"2017-04-07T14:46:25.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-08T08:44:48.301Z","description":"Night owls with type 2 diabetes are likelier to report depression symptoms than those who get up and go to bed early.","url":"https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/","keywords":["Research","diabetes"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c203f712632bd33/6988b6f90b72e304336ec624/good-quality-sleep.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda MacMillan / Health.com"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c203f712632bd33/6988b6f90b72e304336ec624/good-quality-sleep.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Portrait of woman sleeping in bed","caption":"Portrait of woman sleeping in bed","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/research/","name":"Research"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/","name":"Being a Night Owl Is Linked to Depression"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Try This Healthy, Cheap Late-Night Snack MONEY","description":"Here is a healthy and cheap snack to satisfy your sweet tooth.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Ssv2NfLc/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-03-06T19:08:00.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ssv2NfLc.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/","duration":"PT1M53S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4729776/diabetes-bedtime-depression-link/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```