Hectic week? A well-deserved weekend lie-in can PREVENT type 2 diabetes Sleeping longer at the weekend can help those who burn the candle at both ends during the working week Insulin in the body worked better after a weekend of lie-ins - especially for those lacking in sleep Having insulin that keeps blood sugar levels under control is known to cut the odds of developing diabetes It is the perfect excuse to switch off the alarm and enjoy a well-earned lie in. Doctors say that sleeping longer at the weekend is good for health - at least in those who burn the candle at both ends during the working week. Specifically, getting up later on a Saturday and Sunday seems to cut the odds of type 2 diabetes, the form of diabetes that usually strikes in middle-age. Getting up later on Saturday and Sundays seems to cut the odds of type 2 diabetes, the form of diabetes that usually strikes in middle-age It is known to be linked to lack of sleep, as well as obesity, and carries with it a host of complications from strokes and heart attacks to blindness, kidney disease and nerve and circulatory damage, which can lead to amputations. The Australian researchers said their findings could help improve the health of those who struggle to get enough sleep in an increasingly hectic world. For their study, the results of which were presented at a major medical conference, they monitored 19 healthy young men who usually only grabbed around six hours of shut eye on weeknights. The men, who had an average age of 29, had got by on this amount of sleep for more than five years on average. However, they made it up at the weekend, regularly sleeping an extra two hours-plus a night. To see how this pattern affected their odds of diabetes, the men gave blood samples after weekends in which they slept for six or ten hours a night. The samples revealed that the hormone insulin, which is key in converting sugar into energy and stops working properly in type 2 diabetes, worked better after a weekend of lie-ins. Having insulin that keeps blood sugar levels under control is known to cut the odds of developing diabetes. Type 2 diabetes now accounts for 90 per cent of the 2.9 million cause of diabetes diagnosed in the UK 0 but a lie in could reduce the risk of the condition The researchers, from the University of Sydney, said the finding is particularly important in today's fast-paced world. Researcher Dr Peter Liu said: "We all know that we need to get adequate sleep but that is often impossible because of work demands and busy lifestyles. Our study found that extending the hours of sleep can improve the body's use of insulin, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in adult men. Reducing the incidence of this chronic illness is critical. Type 2 diabetes account for 90 per cent of the 2.9 million cause of diabetes diagnosed in the UK. Almost one million more are believed to have it without realising it. Traditionally seen as an illness of old and middle age, it is becoming increasing common in the under-40s and costs the NHS £10billion a year - a tenth of its entire budget. Dr Liu, who presented his findings at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Conference in San Francisco today. However, previous research has found that lack of sleep may be particularly bad for women - suggesting they are particularly deserving of a lie in.