High prevalence of insomnia and insomnia symptoms in patients with T2D

Takeaway

• This meta-analysis found a high prevalence of insomnia and symptoms of insomnia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), which may be associated with deleterious glycaemic control.

Why this matters

• Findings suggest that efforts towards educating patients with T2D about the importance of sleep could be the first strategy to improve glycaemic control.

Study design

• Meta-analysis of 78 studies assessed the prevalence of insomnia symptoms and its association with metabolic parameters or glycaemic control in patients with T2D.
• Funding: None disclosed. 

Key results

• The prevalence of insomnia and insomnia symptoms was 39% in patients with T2D (95% CI, 34-44%; I²=100%; P<.00001).
• Prevalence was higher in the Asian population compared with the European/American population (49% vs 40%).   
• Patients with T2D with insomnia vs those without insomnia had higher:
  • HbA1c levels (mean difference [MD], 0.23%; 95% CI, 0.1-0.4%; I²=76%; P<.00001; risk ratio [RR], 1.18 [95% CI, 1.0-1.4]; I²=73%; P=.001),
  • fasting glucose levels (MD, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.2-0.7] mmol/L; I²=57%; P=.01),
  • body mass index (MD, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.1-0.7] kg/m²; I²=47%; P=.03) and
  • total cholesterol levels (MD, 0.15 [95% CI, 0.03-0.3] mmol/L; P=.43).

Limitations

• High heterogeneity across studies.