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Sleep and Environmental Factors Affecting Glycemic Control in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Current Diabetes Reports volume 19, Article number: 40 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Sleep and environmental factors both impact glycemic control in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This narrative article aims to review research within the past 5 years, focusing on chronotype, light, noise, and neighborhood disparities in relation to sleep in people with T2DM.

Recent Findings

Sleep quality and duration have been shown to impact glycemic control in patients with T2DM. Later chronotype can lead to poorer glycemic control due to disruption of circadian rhythms. Light exposure also has similar effects, likely due to its inherent influence on sleep quality. Environmental determinants, were associated with lower T2DM incidence, and noise and air pollution were associated with increased risks for T2DM.

Summary

Findings were mixed; while most studies found that later chronotype, light/noise exposure, and neighborhood disadvantages were associated with poorer glycemic control in patients with T2DM, other environmental factors, such as green space, were not significantly associated with diabetes outcomes.

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Fig. 1

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Anika Afroz-Hossain & Alyson K. Myers

  2. Department of Medicine, SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Makeda Dawkins

  3. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Alyson K. Myers

  4. Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Center for Health Innovations and Outcomes Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Alyson K. Myers

  5. Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hoftsra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA

    Alyson K. Myers

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  1. Anika Afroz-Hossain
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Correspondence to Alyson K. Myers.

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Table 1 Summary of articles reviewed
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Afroz-Hossain, A., Dawkins, M. & Myers, A.K. Sleep and Environmental Factors Affecting Glycemic Control in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Diab Rep 19, 40 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1159-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1159-9

Keywords

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Chronotype
  • Social jetlag
  • Neighborhood disparities
  • Light
  • Noise