Restless Legs Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes

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Restless legs syndrome and quality of sleep in type 2 diabetes, by L.A. Lopes and colleagues. Diabetes Care 28:2633-2636, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Restless legs syndrome is an overwhelming urge to move the legs because of uncomfortable or unpleasant sensations in the legs. The sensations occur during periods of inactivity and become more sensitive in the evening and at night, making it difficult to sleep. Restless legs syndrome is temporarily relieved by moving the legs and may cause involuntary jerking of the limbs during sleep and sometimes during wakefulness.

Restless legs syndrome is a neurologic condition, meaning that is has to do with the nerves or the nervous system. Diabetes is a common cause of nerve damage, and some studies have found that sleep disturbances are common in people with diabetes.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to look at the quality of sleep and how common restless legs syndrome was among people with type 2 diabetes.

Who was studied?

One hundred patients with type 2 diabetes who regularly went to the diabetes clinic at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.

How was the study done?

The researchers used established indexes and criteria to measure the patient's quality of sleep and to find out if they had restless legs syndrome.

What did the researchers find?

Twenty-seven percent of the patients had restless legs syndrome, and 45% suffered from poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was linked with age, nerve damage, and restless legs syndrome. Excessive daytime sleepiness was also linked with restless legs syndrome.

What were the limitations of the study?

Excessive daytime sleepiness can be caused by many things, and this study was not designed to find out the exact causes of the daytime sleepiness.

What are the implications of the study?

Restless legs syndrome is commonly found in people with type 2 diabetes and can lead to poor sleep quality in these patients. Restless legs syndrome is linked with nerve damage, and physicians should actively ask their patients about the quality of their sleep.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Sleep disturbance and onset of type 2 diabetes, by N. Kawakami and colleagues. Diabetes Care 27:282-283, 2004

Diabetic Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) and Diabetes

Diabetes A to Z, 5th edition, by the American Diabetes Association