Sleep quality in people with type 2 diabetes controlled at the primary level and its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Type 2 diabetes (DM2) is one of the diseases that cause the highest premature mortality and disability worldwide. Sleep disturbances have been associated with the onset of metabolic disorders and increased levels of glycated haemoglobin in diabetics.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of sleep of people with type 2 diabetes and its association with sociodemographic, clinical, and metabolic characteristics.

METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, analytical study of 223 patients with DM2 between 20 and 64 years old, controlled in a primary health care centre in Chile.

RESULTS: Most were women (66.4%), average age 54.7 years. Only 33% slept the required number of hours (7-9 h) to maintain health. Fifty-seven point seven percent were metabolically unbalanced (Hb1Ac > 7%). Seventy-five point two percent presented sleep problems of varying severity, which were associated with being a woman, night pain, nocturia, time of diagnosis of diabetes, and depressive symptoms. Persons with poor sleep quality were 73% more likely to be metabolically decompensated, however, this result was not statistically significant: OR = 1.73 (CI: 78-3.87).

CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of poor sleep quality and metabolic decompensation in the sample stands out, which could complicate DM2. The association between poor sleep quality and DM2 decompensation is inconclusive. Future research will contribute to elucidating the role of sleep in metabolic compensation and in the prevention of metabolic disorders.