Sleep duration as a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance: analyses of the Quebec Family Study.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the long-term relationship between sleep duration and type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

METHODS

Body composition measurements and self-reported sleep duration were determined in a longitudinal sample of 276 individuals aged 21 to 64 years followed for a mean of 6 years. Risk factors of type 2 diabetes/IGT over the follow-up were determined and relative risks (RRs) calculated for the development of type 2 diabetes/IGT by sleep duration group.

RESULTS

Independent risk factors of type 2 diabetes/IGT over the follow-up included age, obesity, sleep duration, and glucose/insulin homeostasis indicators. Using adults with 7-8h of sleep as a reference, the adjusted RR for the development of type 2 diabetes/IGT was 2.78 (1.61-4.12) for those with 6h of sleep and 2.54 (1.42-3.53) for those with 9h of sleep. These elevated RRs remained significant after adjustment for body mass index, waist circumference or percent body fat.

CONCLUSION

Short and long sleeping times are associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes/IGT, independent of several covariates. These results suggest that sleep duration may represent a novel risk factor for type 2 diabetes/IGT.