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A new study has found that insufficient sleep duration and late sleep onset, either independently or in combination, are linked to increased glycemic variability in middle-aged and older adults. These findings highlight the potential consequences of suboptimal sleep patterns on glucose metabolism, emphasizing the need for better sleep hygiene in diabetes prevention and management.
Study Methodology
Researchers investigated the relationship between long-term sleep duration, onset timing, and glycemic variability using regression models in 1,156 middle-aged and older adults (mean age, 63.0 years; 70.6% women) from a prospective cohort in Guangdong, China. Participants wore continuous glucose monitoring devices for 14 consecutive days, capturing interstitial glucose levels every 15 minutes.
Glycemic variability was assessed using key metrics, including the coefficient of variation (CV), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, mean of daily differences, and standard deviation (SD). Mean blood glucose levels and time spent within the normal glucose range served as indicators of glycemic control.
Self-reported sleep duration was categorized as severely (4.7-4.1 hours), moderately (6.0-5.5 hours), or mildly (7.2-6.8 hours) inadequate, with adequate sleep defined as 8.4-8.0 hours per night. Researchers also classified sleep onset as persistently early or late based on patterns reported between 2013-2023.
Key Findings
Compared to participants with adequate sleep, those with severe inadequate sleep exhibited a 2.87% increase in CV for glycemic variability, higher SD (0.17 mmol/L), greater mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (0.47 mmol/L), and an increased mean of daily differences (0.06 mmol/L). Moreover, the group with severe sleep deprivation spent significantly less time within the normal glucose range (-3.11%).
Persistently late sleep onset was also linked to heightened glycemic variability, as evidenced by increases in CV (1.18%), SD (0.08 mmol/L), and mean of daily differences (0.02 mmol/L). A combination of inadequate sleep duration and late sleep onset further exacerbated these effects, reinforcing the impact of sleep misalignment on glycemic control.
Implications for Practice
“Our findings emphasize the potential detrimental role of circadian rhythm misalignment on glycemic regulation, providing evidence to incorporate sleep timing into glucose management guidelines,” the authors stated. The study underscores the importance of both sufficient sleep duration and early sleep onset to optimize glycemic control and reduce associated health risks.
Study Limitations
Despite its compelling findings, the study has limitations. Researchers relied on self-reported sleep data rather than objective sleep measurements, which could introduce bias. Additionally, factors such as sleep apnea were not thoroughly examined. The study’s sample was limited to middle-aged and older Chinese individuals, restricting its applicability to broader populations.
Funding and Disclosures
This study was supported by grants from various Chinese research foundations, including the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation and the National Key Research and Development Program of China. The authors disclosed no relevant conflicts of interest.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Individuals concerned about their sleep patterns and glycemic control should consult a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations.
