Excessive daytime somnolence is associated with hypoglycemia in adult Latinos with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the frequency of sleep disorders in hypoglycemic diabetic patients and possible relationships with scores of sleep disorders and restless legs syndrome in mestizo population in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted at an outpatient endocrinology clinic in urban and rural Ecuador regions, included 290 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus with severe hypoglycemic episodes, completed, validated, and culturally adapted sleep questionnaires to assess daytime sleepiness, risk of sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with severe hypoglycemia.

RESULTS: The prevalence of EDS was 56.8%, RLS prevalence of 46.2%, and 38.6% prevalence of high risk Berlin score. Multivariate logistic regression indicated hypoglycemic T2DM in the range of 56-75 years old were more likely to have high ESS (p 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of sleep disorders in diabetic Latinos living in Ecuador was evidenced. The presence of somnolence in patients older than 56 years and high HbA1c levels should alert the clinician for the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes.