Diabetes UK: Worry and sleepless nights increase risk of diabetes in men

Monday, 28, Jul 2008 12:00

Psychological distress including anxiety, insomnia, depression, apathy and fatigue can more than double the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in older men¹, warns leading health charity Diabetes UK.

Researchers looked at 2,127 men, born between 1938 and 1957, who had normal blood glucose levels. They determined their level of psychological distress both at the beginning and end of the study. The men were tested for diabetes eight to ten years later and it was found that the men with the highest levels of psychological distress were 2.2 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest levels. Altogether 103 men developed Type 2 diabetes.

The link was independent of other factors including age, body mass index (BMI), family history of diabetes, smoking, physical activity and socio-economic background.

The study, published in the journal ¿Diabetic Medicine¿ this month, also looked at 3,100 middle-aged women but found that there was not an increased risk of diabetes in those with high levels of psychological distress.

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said: "It is intriguing that the increased risk of diabetes occurs in men only and it would be interesting to find out why. The results suggest that it could be due to a hormonal or behavioural influence. We already know from previous studies that stress is considered to be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and others have looked at the link between sleep disorders, such as insomnia, and the condition. This research appears to confirm that there might be something in this.

We know that risk factors which increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes are being white and over 40 years old, or of black or South Asian origin and over 25 years old, having a family member with the condition, being overweight and having high blood pressure. If you have two or more of these risk factors, you should see your GP for a simple test."

Professor Anders Ekbom from the Unit of Clinical Epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, conducted the study. He said: "Genetic and environmental factors are involved in the development of Type 2 diabetes. We already knew that psychological distress and depression are risk factors for heart disease and suspected they may play a part in developing Type 2 diabetes, which is corroborated by this research. The link could be a result of the way psychological distress affects the brain's role in regulating hormones or perhaps because depression influences a person's diet and level of physical activity in a negative way."

To find out if you are at risk of diabetes visit www.diabetes.org.uk

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For further media information, please contact Rupi Gohlar or Maria Lam at Diabetes UK Press office on 0207 424 1165 or email pressteam@diabetes.org.uk. For urgent out of hours media enquiries, please call 07711 176 028.

Notes to editor

1 Research carried out by A. ¿K. Eriksson, A.Ekbom, F. Granath, A. Hilding and C.-G. Ostenson at the Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stolkholm, Sweden. Published in Diabetic Medicine Volume 25 issue 7, pages 834-842 (2008). http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-5491.2008.02463.x

2 Diabetes UK is the charity for people with diabetes. We fund more than £7 million of medical research every year, provide information and support to people with diabetes and campaign on their behalf. For more information visit www.diabetes.org.uk.

3 In the UK, there are currently 2.3 million people diagnosed with diabetes and it is estimated that more than half a million people have the condition but do not know it.

4 The Diabetes UK Careline (0845 120 2960) offers information and support on any aspect of managing diabetes. The line is a lo-call number and opens Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (operates a translation service). Recorded information on a number of diabetes-related topics is also available on this number 24 hours a day.

5 Membership of Diabetes UK is from £22 a year with special rates available. In addition to our bi-monthly magazine Balance, members receive support and the latest information on diabetes care and treatments to help them live a healthy life.