Goa, February 29, 2026 – Nearly two-thirds of individuals with type 2 diabetes report struggling with poor sleep quality, according to a new study, highlighting a critical but often overlooked aspect of managing the condition. The research pinpoints age, weight, diabetes duration, and co-existing health issues as key factors disrupting rest for those living with diabetes.
Sleep Struggles Common Among Those With Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study reveals that 60% of people with type 2 diabetes experiance poor sleep, linked to factors like age and other health conditions.
- Approximately 60% of type 2 diabetes patients experience poor sleep quality.
- Older age is strongly associated with increased sleep disturbances.
- Existing health conditions, like hypertension, significantly impact sleep.
- Integrating sleep hygiene into diabetes care could improve overall well-being.
Patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently face a diminished quality of life due to a range of clinical effects. Among these,sleep disturbances pose a meaningful challenge,as individuals with type 2 DM frequently enough struggle to establish and maintain healthy sleep patterns due to underlying physiological imbalances.
the hospital-based cross-sectional study,conducted at the Rural Health and Training Center in Mandur,Goa,involved 200 participants with type 2 DM recruited through systematic random sampling.Researchers aimed to determine the prevalence of poor sleep quality and identify associated factors within this population.
Among the participants, 139 (69.5%) were male, and 61 (30.5%) were female, with a mean age of 52 years. The study, co-authored by Vanita G Pinto Da Silva, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, and Dr Ronald Robin, and published in the ‘Indian Journal of Community Medicine’, found that age, sex, diabetes duration, Body Mass Index (BMI), and the presence of other health conditions were all significantly linked to poor sleep quality.
“The proportion of poor sleep quality in this study was found to be 120 (60%),” researchers stated. “The majority of study participants with poor sleep quality were above 50 years old.There was a significant association between age and poor sleep quality, as found in other studies.” Aging naturally alters sleep patterns, leading to decreased deep sleep, more frequent nighttime awakenings, and an increased risk of sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea.
older adults are also more susceptible to chronic conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and neuropathy, all of which can contribute to discomfort and disrupted sleep.Nearly 59% of study participants (117 individuals) had other co-morbidities,most notably hypertension and dyslipidemia,which also showed a significant association with poor sleep.
Sleep & Diabetes- Fluctuating blood sugar and blood pressure can disrupt sleep. Frequent urination, a diabetes symptom, also interrupts rest. Improved sleep may enhance blood sugar control and overall well-being.
The study emphasizes that sleep quality is often an overlooked component of diabetes care. Integrating sleep hygiene education and targeted interventions into routine diabetes management could substantially improve patient outcomes. Healthcare professionals should proactively screen diabetic patients for sleep disturbances and offer tailored interventions,such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia,weight management programs,medication adjustments,and lifestyle modifications promoting regular physical activity and stress reduction.
“Addressing sleep issues in diabetes care has the potential to improve blood sugar control, enhance treatment adherence, and boost overall well-being,” the study concluded.
