The Influence of Sleep on Glycated Hemoglobin in Pregnancy With Gestational Diabetes

Background: Sleep disturbances have been associated with poor glycemic control in differential clinical settings. Both short and long sleep duration, influence insulin resistance and blood glucose in diabetic patients. Pregnancy is an additional risk for reduced sleep quality and quantity, and the presence of hyperglycemia, as a complicating factor, has being increasingly frequent. Different measures of sleep evaluation, both objectively and subjectively, can provide additional information about the influence of sleep in metabolic control in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Objective: To investigate the influence of sleep quality and objective sleep measures on glycated hemoglobin (HBA1C) in patients with GDM. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study examining patients with GDM from 2(nd) to 3(rd) trimester of pregnancy. Clinical data and behavior questionnaires were collected by a face-to-face interview. Self-Rated Sleep Quality was evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index- (PSQI). In order to improve the accuracy of the information, a 14-day sleep log was obtained, and objective sleep measurements were registered by actigraphic record (5 to 7 days). Results: Overall, GDM patients (N=311), aged from 20 to 46 y (33.1±5.6) were evaluated. Sleep duration ≤6 hours/night was found in 43.4%, and 63.9% reported poor sleep quality (PSQI>5). Sleep duration measured by actigraphy was correlated with sleep duration registered by sleep log (r=.45, p=.04), and with PSQI (r=-.33, p=.002). Sleep quality and sleep duration registered by either actigraphy or sleep log were not correlated with Hba1c. Amongst all, Hba1c varied from 4.3 to 7.0 mg/dL (5.9 ±.53). Sleep fragmentation, measured by the length of time patient spends awake after sleep onset (WASO) was correlated withHba1c level in patients with GDM (r=.41, p=0.04). Conclusion: Sleep duration obtained from the sleep log was a reliable measure correlating with objective sleep parameters registered by actigraphy and with sleep quality. In GDM patients, increased wake time after sleep onset was correlated with higher Hba1c.