Obesity and
type 2 diabetes (T2D) are increasingly common worldwide. While these disorders have increased in prevalence over the past several decades, there has been a concomitant reduction in sleep duration. Short sleep duration has been associated with higher rates of
obesity and T2D, and the causality of these associations and their directionality, continue to necessitate evaluation. In this review we consider the evidence that sleep is an
intrinsic factor in the development of
obesity and chronic metabolic disorders, such as
insulin resistance and T2D, while evaluating a potential bi-directional association. We consider the evidence that diet and meal composition, which are known to impact
glycemic control, may have both chronic and acute impact upon sleep. Moreover, we consider that postprandial nocturnal metabolism and peripheral glycemia may affect sleep quality. We propose putative mechanisms whereby acute effects of nighttime
glucose excursions may lead to increased
sleep fragmentation. We conclude that dietary manipulations, particularly with respect to
carbohydrate quality, may confer sleep benefits. Future research may seek to evaluate the effectiveness of synergistic nutrient strategies to promote sleep quality, with particular attention to
carbohydrate quality, quantity, and availability as well as
carbohydrate to
protein ratio.