Physiological Study of the Sleep State of Employed Middle-Aged Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Fusae Kondo, RN, PhD , Department of Nursing, Kyorin University, School of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
Asami Suzuki, RN , Department of Nursing, Kyorin University, School of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
Toru Nakagima, MD , School of medical, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
Shinithiro Tanaka , School of medical, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to determine the sleep state characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to T2DM may suffer from sleep disorders before they become aware of their inability to fall a sleep.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine the sleep state characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in order to develop a model for educational intervention for latent sleep problems related to hyperglycemia.

Methods: Subjects were employed outpatients with T2DM (n=20). Subjects wore an actigraph while at work for 7-8 days in order to determine periods of activity (waking stage) and inactivity (sleep stage). Subjective sleepiness was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the OSA sleep inventory. The relationship between PSQI scores and HbA1c levels among T2DM inpatients was also analyzed.

Results: A significant difference in the "quality of sleep" as measured by the PSQI and HbA1c was observed between patients with T2DM and healthy adults. Although patients with higher PSQI-Global scores tended to have higher HbA1c levels, this difference was not significant. The (mG)0 activity level during the inactive period (sleep stage) was 56.7% for patients with T2DM and 79.4% in healthy adults, which was a significant difference. A negative correlation was observed between the (mG)0 activity level during the inactive period (sleep stage) and the diabetic history of patients with T2DM.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that patients with T2DM may suffer from sleep disorders before they become aware of their inability to fall a sleep. Therefore, medical workers must acknowledge the need for educational interventions so that their patients can improve their sleep, in addition to managing a well-balanced diet and exercise.