ATLANTA (WAOK) – A new study finds a lack of sleep can lead to a higher risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found even a week of inadequate sleep can alter the activity of hundreds of genes in a person’s body, making them more susceptible to health problems. The National Institutes of Health says folks who get less than seven to nine hours of sleep a night have a higher risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.