Impact of sleep duration during pregnancy on the risk of gestational diabetes in the Japan environmental and Children’s study (JECS)

Abstract

BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has serious effects on both mother and child. Like Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, it is increasing in prevalence world-wide. In addition to obesity, sleep duration has been named an important risk factor. Using a large cohort study, including data from 48,787 participants of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), we examined the association between sleep duration and both random blood glucose levels and GDM rates during pregnancy.MethodsRandom blood glucose levels were measured during pregnancy. GDM diagnosis was based on the results of 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Additional anthropometric data was collected from questionnaires for statistical analysis.ResultsCompared to mothers averaging 7 to < 10 h sleep (reference group), women receiving < 5 h or ≥ 10 h sleep exhibited significantly elevated random blood glucose levels. This was associated with an elevated risk for positive GDM screening (< 5 h sleep: OR 1.17 (0.96–1.44) p = 0.126; ≥10 h sleep: OR 1.13 (1.03–1.25) p = 0.006). Calculating the risk for GDM, women sleeping < 5 h or ≥ 10 h exhibited elevated risks of 1.31-fold and 1.21 respectively. However, this trend was not found to be significant.ConclusionsSleep is a critical factor in glucose metabolism, with both abnormally long and short sleep duration increasing random blood glucose levels in pregnant women. Moreover, the risk for positive GDM screening increases significantly with elevated sleep, ≥10 h per night. These findings are promising because they support the idea that sleep duration is a modifiable risk factor, and can be focused upon to improve health and pregnancy outcome.

Effect of Preconception Selenium Intake on the Risk for Gestational Diabetes: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study

“…In Japanese medical practice, glucose-tolerance screening and testing for GDM is performed as a universal screening for every woman according to the protocols of the Obstetrics Society or Diabetes Society of Japan, depending on the local institution, using a two-step protocol [ 26 , 27 ]. All pregnant women participating in JECS underwent the screening procedure for GDM diagnosis during both early and late pregnancy.…”

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Harbinger of the Vicious Cycle of Diabetes

“…A few studies have determined that prolonged exposure to environmental psychological stress is related to maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy, which may increase the risk of GDM [ 63 ]. Similarly, the use of antidepressant and psychotropic medications, smoking, and poor sleep hygiene have also been shown to be risk factors for GDM [ 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”

A Review on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Present Concern

“…Pregnant mothers possibly gain nearly thirty percent of the mass in fatty tissues and overweight are few probable variables for diabetes in pregnancy (De Souza et al, 2015). The consumption of antidepressants and psychotropic drugs, smoking (Hosler et al, 2011), and improper sleep (Myoga et al, 2019) Moses et al, 1997). Recent studies suggested the importance of environmental exposure like toxic metals (Varshavsky et al, 2019), air pollution (Elshahidi 2019), and chemicals (Ehrlich et al, 2016) in the development of GDM.…”