Those who have jobs that require more than 55 hours of work in a week may need to slow down - although the job's nature must be considered.

A study published in The Lancet revealed that individuals in low socioeconomic status groups who manually labor over 55 hours a week tend to have higher chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The study found that the risk was 30% more than those who worked 35 to 40 hours per week.

The researchers concentrated on the role of long working hours as a risk factor for Type 2 DM. Collecting relevant data from four previously-published studies, the research team devised their study criteria as the following: English-language publication; prospective design (cohort study); investigation of the effect of working hours or overtime work; incident diabetes as an outcome; and relative risks, odds ratios, or hazard ratios.

In addition, the team also made use of unpublished data. All in all, US News reported that data from over 222,000 men and women in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia were examined. The subjects were followed for a mean 7.6 years.

According to the report, the initial analysis showed no significant difference among the 55-hour workers and 35-40-hour workers - until further analyses revealed the connection between longer work hours and the factors that lead to Type 2 DM.

The Yorkshire Post cited lead scientist Professor Mika Kivimaki from University College London who said that the accumulation of gathered data allowed them to investigate on their objective "with greater precision" than before.

However, the researchers cleared that there is no direct cause-and-effect relationship of working on extended periods and Type 2 DM per se: one can't have DM just by working more than 55 hours per week alone.

Diabetes Mellitus 2 is the adult-onset, non-insulin dependent type. Patients affected with this endocrine disorder are capable of producing insulin (needed to transport sugar in the body's cells), unlike Type 1. Although capable, the insulin released is not enough to meet the body's metabolic demands. When insulin is insufficient, sugar (glucose) cannot be transported to the cell - it therefore accumulates in the blood. Glucose provides energy to the cells.

The following risk factor parameters for Type 2 DM are published by The Mayo Clinic: weight, fat distribution, inactivity, family history, race, age, pre-diabetes (higher blood sugar than normal), gestational DM and polycystic ovary syndrome. Cardinal symptoms of Diabetes include extreme thirst, excessive urination and hunger.

A combination of insulin therapy, oral hypoglycemic agents and lifestyle modification may be used to manage Type 2 DM.