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Flattened circadian cortisol rhythm in type 2 diabetes
F Lederbogen1, J Hummel, C Fademrecht
1Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. florian.lederbogen@zimannheim.de
Summary
Individuals with type 2 diabetes show a flattened circadian cortisol rhythm, indicating a specific dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system. This finding reveals altered cortisol patterns in diabetic patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Altered cortisol concentrations are noted in type 2 diabetes.
- The circadian cortisol profile in type 2 diabetes remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the circadian cortisol profile in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- To determine if type 2 diabetes is associated with specific alterations in the daily cortisol rhythm.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Saliva cortisol concentrations measured at multiple time points (wake-up, 0.5h, 8h, 14h) on a weekday.
- Comparison between 63 ambulatory type 2 diabetes patients and 916 non-diabetic controls from the KORA-F3 study.
Main Results:
- Type 2 diabetes patients exhibited a flattened circadian cortisol profile (rm-ANOVA, p=0.02).
- Characterized by lower morning and higher afternoon/evening cortisol levels compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- A flattened circadian cortisol rhythm is observed in type 2 diabetes.
- This suggests a specific dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system in diabetic individuals.
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