Study Links Sleep Duration to Blood Vessel Damage in Recently Diagnosed Diabetics

New research to be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) revealed that individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who experience either short or long sleep durations are more likely to develop microvascular disease, which can lead to severe complications. The study, conducted by Mette Johansen and Thomas Olesen from the Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Denmark, and their colleagues, highlighted the potential impact of sleep duration on diabetes-related vascular health.

Microvascular complications, including retinopathy and nephropathy, significantly contribute to the morbidity associated with T2D. Previous studies have indicated that variations in sleep duration might influence the risk of developing these complications. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep duration and the prevalence of microvascular disease in individuals newly diagnosed with T2D.

The researchers utilized data from the Specialist Supervised Individualized Multifactorial Treatment of New Clinically Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes in General Practice (IDA) study. Participants' sleep durations were measured over 10 days. Sleep duration was categorized as short (<7 hours), optimal (7 to <9 hours), or long (≥9 hours). Microvascular disease was defined by either a urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥ 30 mg/g or the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) assessed through mydriatic retinal imaging or ophthalmoscopy.

The analysis included 396 participants with valid sleep duration, UACR measurements, and eye examinations. The median age of participants was 62 years, with an average diabetes duration of 3.5 years. The cohort predominantly consisted of overweight individuals, with a median BMI of 31, and 68% were on antihypertensive medication.

Among the participants, 12% had short sleep duration, 60% had optimal sleep duration, and 28% had long sleep duration. The prevalence of microvascular damage was 38% in the short sleep duration group, 18% in the optimal sleep duration group, and 31% in the long sleep duration group. Short sleep duration was associated with a 2.6 times increased risk of microvascular disease compared to optimal sleep duration, while long sleep duration was linked to a 2.3 times increased risk.

For participants under 62 years old, short sleep duration increased the risk of microvascular damage by 23% compared to optimal sleep duration. However, for those aged 62 and over, short sleep duration was linked to a 5.7 times increased risk. The effect of age on the relationship between long sleep duration and microvascular disease was not statistically significant.

The findings underscored the importance of optimal sleep duration in managing newly diagnosed T2D patients and suggested that both insufficient and excessive sleep may exacerbate the risk of microvascular complications, especially in older adults.

Reference: Mette Johansen, Thomas Olesen, et al.; Study finds short and long sleep duration associated with blood vessel damage in those recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; DIABETOLOGIA; MEETING: Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)