The cross talk between chronotype, depression symptomatology, and glycaemic control among sudanese patients with diabetes mellitus: A case-control study

AIM OF THE STUDY: There is an increasing awareness about chronotype and depression among patients with diabetes mellitus as commonly ignored serious association. We aimed to investigate the same among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their relation to glycaemic control. SUBJECTS' AND METHODS: This case-control study conducted at two diabetes centers in Omdurman, Sudan during the period from April 2019 to September 2019. Ninety-two patient with type 2 diabetes and 94 controls signed a written informed consent then interviewed using a structured questionnaire based on the morningness–eveningness scale and the 12-item general health questionnaire; A blood sample was taken for the glycated haemoglobin to assess glycaemic control. The Statistical Package for Social Silences was used for Data analysis. RESULTS: They were 92 patients with diabetes (58.7% women) and 94 healthy control subjects (52.1% women); matched for ages (57.03 ± 8.59 for diabetic patients and 58.46 ± 10.58 years for control subjects) and sex. Morning chronotype was reported in 95.3% vs. 47.5% and intermediate chronotype was evident in 52.4% vs. 4.3% in controls and patients respectively, P < 0.05. Depression symptomatology was found in 76.1% of patients with diabetes vs. 40.4% of control subjects, P < 0.05. No association was shown between depression symptomatology, chronotype, age, sex, and HbA1c, P > 0.05. CONCLUSION: Sudanese patients with diabetes were more likely intermediate, less morning chronotype, and more depressed compared to their counterparts. No association was found between depression symptomatology and other patient's characters. Larger studies investigating the risk behind depression, chrono-nutrition, and social jetlag among patients with diabetes are needed.