Association between gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia in patients with type 2 diabetes: The KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal disturbances and insomnia affect the quality of life of patients with diabetes. However, the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia in patients with diabetes has rarely been analyzed. Thus, aim of this study was to investigate the association between gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes was carried out from January 2014 to April 2022 using the database of the KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study. Patient data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and the Izumo Scale and the Athens Insomnia Scale were used to assess gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the association between gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia.

RESULTS: A total of 175 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in this study. Patients with insomnia had higher Izumo scores than those without insomnia (P < 0.0001). Izumo scale score was significantly associated with insomnia in patients with type 2 diabetes, even after adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin level, neuropathy, insulin therapy and nocturia (odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.16). Each gastrointestinal symptom assessed using the Izumo scale was associated with insomnia. The odds ratios of heartburn, stomach pain, lethargy, constipation and diarrhea for insomnia were 1.32 (95% CI 1.13-1.55), 1.38 (95% CI 1.16-1.63), 1.33 (95% CI 1.13-1.56), 1.21 (95% CI 1.08-1.36) and 1.29 (95% CI 1.12-1.47), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal symptoms are strongly associated with sleep disturbances in patients with type 2 diabetes.