Sleep, Diet and Physical Activity Among Adults Living With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Our aim in this work was to document sleep/insomnia, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and physical activity (PA) according to diabetes presence and type and biologic sex, as these 3 lifestyle habits may influence glycemic control and prevention of diabetes-related complications.

Adults between 18 and 64 years of age were invited to complete validated web-based self-reported questionnaires assessing sleep, insomnia, FV consumption and PA. Pregnant women and shift workers were excluded from the study.

A total of 151 adults (80.1% women), of whom 54 had diabetes (type 1 [T1D], n=30; type 2 [T2D], n=24), completed the questionnaires. Sleep quality scores were significantly higher, indicating poorer sleep quality, according to diabetes presence (diabetes, 7.2±3.5; no diabetes, 5.4±3.5; p=0.0024) and type (T1D, 6.1±2.9; T2D, 8.7±3.8; p=0.0072). Sleep duration was significantly shorter among adults living with diabetes (diabetes, 7.0±1.7 hours/night; no diabetes, 7.8±1.3 hours/night; p=0.0019), regardless of type. More adults living with diabetes had moderate to severe clinical insomnia (diabetes, 25.9%; no diabetes, 10.4%; p=0.0129), especially those with T2D (T1D, 13.3%; T2D, 41.7%; p=0.0182). FV consumption and PA did not vary significantly according to diabetes presence and type. Only PA differed by biologic sex, with lower PA among women.

The results suggest that adults living with diabetes, especially those with T2D, are at higher risk for short and poor sleep quality, and clinical insomnia. Adults living with diabetes, especially those with T2D, should have access to effective sleep interventions to prevent complications associated with elevated glucose levels.