The Concept of Sleep Ability and its Effect on Diabetes Control in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Few published studies have examined the effects of various components of sleep on the control of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to construct a concept of sleep ability and examine its effect on diabetes control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Participants were 37 outpatients, 41 to 73 years of age, who had type 2 diabetes. Participants monitored their sleep for 14 days using a sleep meter, and they completed questionnaires concerning quality of life (Problem Areas in Diabetes), self-care (Self-Care Agency Questionnaire) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Data on glycated hemoglobin levels and body mass index were also collected. Canonical correlation analysis and exploratory selection were used to investigate the relationships between the variables involved in diabetes control and sleep ability.

Using canonical correlation analysis and exploratory selection, sleep ability was found to be composed of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score, objective total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, bedtime standard deviation, wake-up time standard deviation and the absolute value of the difference between subjective and objective sleep efficiency. A significant correlation was found between components of diabetes control (glycated hemoglobin levels, body mass index, quality-of-life evaluation from Problem Areas in Diabetes and self-care evaluation from the Self-Care Agency Questionnaire) and sleep ability (canonical correlation coefficient [R_C] =0.755, p=0.006).

The significant elements of sleep ability represented the quality, quantity, maintenance, regularity and recognition of sleep, and each element made a large contribution to diabetes control. We conclude, therefore, that improving sleep ability may lead to good diabetes control.