Sleep disorders tied to increased risk of type 2 diabetes: Study

USA: People with type 2 diabetes have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) that negatively affects health outcomes. The researchers in a recent study stress the need for efforts to diagnose and treat sleep disorders in T2D patients in order to improve health and therefore quality of life since treatment of sleep disorders could prevent diabetes progression. The study findings appear in the journal Diabetologia. 

Diabetes is one of the leading global health problems that lead to many other diseases like blindness, cardiovascular disease, renal diseases. There are an estimated 72.96 million cases of diabetes in the adult population of India. Sleep disorders are linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and increase the risk of developing diabetic complications. A new review by Samantha B. J. Schipper and the team pointed out the risks of developing diabetic complications due to sleep disorders.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the literature on the prevalence of sleep disorders in type 2 diabetes and its association with negative health outcomes has led to a recommendation that more effort should be made to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.

The reviewers discussed the study by researchers in the Netherlands and America that identified sleep problems are linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and increased the risk of developing diabetes complications, the treatment of sleep disorders could have played an important role in the prevention of the progression of the condition. The team conducted a literature survey in PubMed from its inception until January 2021, using a relevant survey. They also found that insomnia (39% [95% CI 34, 44]), obstructive sleep apnoea (55–86%), and restless legs syndrome (8–45%) were more prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes, compared with the general population. In addition, a number of other studies reviewed showed that sleep disorders negatively affect health outcomes in at least one area of diabetes, especially glycaemic control, with insomnia associated with increased HbA1c levels.

The research also highlighted that further investigation into this subject area is required, as there have been few randomized controlled trials that examine the effect of treating sleep disorders in people with type 2 diabetes.

The reviewers concluded that "sleep disorders are highly prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes, and negatively affecting health outcomes. Since treatment of the sleep disorder could prevent diabetes progression, efforts should be made to diagnose and treat sleep disorders in type 2 diabetes in order to ultimately improve health and therefore the quality of life."

For further information:

Samantha B. J. Schipper, Maaike M. Van Veen, Petra J. M. Elders, Annemieke van Straten, Ysbrand D. Van Der Werf, Kristen L. Knutson & Femke Rutters "Sleep disorders in people with type 2 diabetes and associated health outcomes: a review of the literature" Diabetologia (2021).