News & Research
Better Sleep Means Better Health
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Sleep problems are common among people with type 2 diabetes. One type of sleep disorder, called sleep apnea, is linked to overweight, diabetes, and heart disease. Another type of sleep disorder is insomnia, which is difficulty falling or staying asleep for long enough periods of time to get enough rest. Insomnia has been linked to depression, anxiety, and suicide. Unlike sleep apnea, insomnia has not yet been linked to diabetes and heart disease. However, recent studies have found a link between severe insomnia and high blood pressure. It is not yet known whether severe insomnia may also be linked to diabetes.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to find out more about whether people who have severe insomnia may be more likely to get diabetes.
Who was studied?
The study included 1,741 adults from central Pennsylvania.
How was the study done?
All participants were asked about their sleep patterns and had sleep studies performed in a sleep lab. Researchers looked at which participants said they had severe insomnia (lasting more than a year), which said they had poor sleep (trouble falling or staying asleep), and how many hours each participant slept during the sleep study. They also looked at which participants had diabetes.
What did the researchers find?
People with severe insomnia and who slept for less than 5 hours during their sleep study were much more likely to have diabetes than those who had no sleep complaints and slept for more than 6 hours during the sleep study.
What were the limitations of the study?
The number of hours that participants slept was based on one night in a sleep lab, which may not have reflected how long they usually slept at home. Future studies should collect information on hours of sleep over several nights. Also, although this study found a link between insomnia and diabetes, it was not designed to show whether insomnia leads to diabetes or whether diabetes leads to insomnia.
What are the implications of the study
People who have ongoing insomnia and do not usually get enough hours of sleep may be more likely to get diabetes. Diagnosing and treating insomnia early is important. More laboratory sleep studies should be done to help identify people who may be more likely to get serious health problems related to their sleep patterns.
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