Undiagnosed poor sleep quality is common among older adults with type 2 diabetes and is associated with impaired quality of life and depressive symptoms

Acta Diabetol. 2026 Nov 11. doi: 10.1007/s00592-026-02817-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Although diabetes is linked to sleep disorders that can reduce quality of life (QOL) and increase depression risk, these conditions are still rarely assessed in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate sleep quality in older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its association with QOL and depressive symptoms.

METHODS: 151 individuals with T2D aged > 60 years without known sleep disorders underwent a review of clinical history and therapy, biochemical exams, and assessment of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index (PSQI), World Health Organization QOL Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The population was then split into: Good Sleepers (PSQI ≤ 5) and Poor Sleepers (PSQI > 5).

RESULTS: The prevalence of low sleep quality was 63.6%. Poor Sleepers showed numerically comparable age, sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, and glycaemic control with Good Sleepers. However, Poor Sleepers showed lower scores in the physical health and psychological health domains of WHOQOL-BREF. After adjusting for confounders, PSQI score was associated with CVD (β = 0.26, P = 0.008) and diabetes duration (β = 0.24, P = 0.022). Furthermore, the scores in the physical health (β=-0.35) as well as the psychological health (β =-0.31) domains of the WHOQOL-BREF and the GDS (β = 0.24) were all independently associated with PSQI score (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In our population of older adults with T2D, poor sleep quality was highly prevalent and associated with poor quality of life and depressive symptoms. Thus, sleep quality assessment should be carefully considered in clinical practice, especially in people with long diabetes duration and complications.

PMID:43012975 | DOI:10.1007/s00592-026-02817-y