Paper
Thursday, 20 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Strategies for the Chronically Ill
The Experience of Being Sleepy While Managing Type 2 Diabetes
Eileen R. Chasens, DSN, RN and Ellen F. Olshansky, DNSc, RNC, FAAN. Department of Health and Community Systems, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Learning Objective #1: describe the relationship between sleep disorders and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Learning Objective #2: describe the effects of sleepiness on the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Introduction: A cornerstone to achieve good glucose control is that persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) engage in daily self-care. Although it is known that excessive daytime sleepiness negatively affects activities sensitive to sleep disruption such as general productivity, it is unknown how sleepiness affects diabetic management. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of sleepiness on management of T2DM.
Methods: This grounded theory study employed two focus groups that lasted no longer than 2 hours each. A facilitator knowledgeable of qualitative research led the groups. Sessions were tape recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Two questions were explored: 1) what does sleepiness mean to you? and 2) how does daytime sleepiness affect how you deal with your diabetes? Inclusion criteria for participants was adults over age 21 with Type 2 DM, English speaking, and with a screening Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) ³ 11. Transcripts of the sessions were reviewed for themes.
Results: A total of 12 persons participated in the two focus groups (42% male, 75% white, mean age 55.5 ± 7.8, mean repeat ESS at focus group= 11.25± 3.51). Participants discussed impaired mood and decreased motivation for engaging in health promoting activities important for diabetic management. A major theme identified was “being too tired to do anything beyond the minimum.” Cooking healthy meals and engaging in exercise were beyond the minimum, negatively affecting their ability to effectively manage their diabetes.
Conclusions: Although participants did minimal, though essential tasks including taking their medications and testing their blood sugar, sleepiness made it difficult to be motivated to do more than the minimum, though important activities for managing their T2DM.

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