ABSTRACT Objective Different pathways may lead from night work to metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to explore the direct and indirect pathways from night work to glycemic levels, considering the role of physical activity, waist circumference and snacking using data from ELSA-Brasil. Materials and methods A structural equation model was used to confirm the pathways from night work to glycemic levels. The latent variable, "glycemic levels", included fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin and 2-hour plasma glucose. Results A total of 10.396 participants were included in the analyses. The final model showed that among women, night work was associated with increased glycemic levels. A statistical significant association between night work and glycemic levels mediated by waist circumference was observed among women and men. Conclusions The association between night shift and glycemic levels can be interpreted as an important step toward understanding the pathways that could explain night work as a risk factor for diabetes using epidemiological data.