Effect of Duration and Quality of Sleep on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The sleep disorder plays a pivotal role in the occurrence and development of diabetes via neuro-endocrine metabolic pathway. People suffering from a sleep disorder - sleep quality or sleep quantity, experience reduction in the insulin sensitivity and consequently, elevated blood glucose, aggravating the progress of diabetes. Hence we examined whether short or poor sleep is associated with glycemic control in Type 2 DM.

To assess the duration and quality of sleep on glycemic control in Type 2 DM.

To compare the same in males and females Type 2 DM.

This study includes 40 Type 2 DM subjects with 20 males and 20 females. For each patient, data regarding age, gender, duration of diabetes, and use of medications were recorded. A detailed physical examination was performed, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values and comorbid conditions were noted. Quality and quantity of sleep was evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire.

Mean age was 51.3 yrs, mean HbA1C was 9.8(±1.6)%.The mean difference between preferred and actual sleep was 2.4(±0.9)hrs. The mean PSQI score is 12.02(±1.7) and is indicative of poor quality of sleep. There was significant positive association between HbAIC and PSQI (r=0.47;p=<0.01) and between HbA1C and sleep debt (r=0.6;p=<0.01).

A statistically significant association between both quality and quantity of sleep in Type 2 DM subjects with poor glycemic control and also high perceieved sleep debt among females was found. These findings suggest that sleep hygiene should be a part of diabetes management.