GESTATIONAL diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common complications observed during pregnancy, and it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (T2D) later in life by nearly 10-times. A recent study investigated the relationships between sleep characteristics including snoring frequency, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness, and the risk of T2D, alongside glucose metabolism biomarkers. The authors found short sleep durations (≤6 hours per day) and frequent snoring were associated with an increased risk of developing T2D in women with a history of GDM.
The cohort study, using data from the Nurses’ Health Study II, which started in 1989 followed 2891 women with a history of GD over a mean duration of 17.3 years. Participants completed questionnaires between June 2001 and June 2003 about their sleep habits, including snoring, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness. Researchers analysed data regarding physician-diagnosed T2D, glucose metabolism biomarkers (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c], C-peptide, and insulin), and risk factors like BMI and family history of diabetes. Their analysis was conducted from November 2023 to August 2024.
Of the 2891 women included in the study, 563 women (19.5%) developed T2D. Sleeping 6 or fewer hours per day was linked to a higher risk of T2D (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32; 95% CI: 1.06–1.64) compared to sleeping 7 to 8 hours per day. On the contrary, long sleep duration was not significantly associated with increased T2D risk. Occasional and regular snoring were associated with a greater risk of developing T2D (HR 1.54; 95% CI: 1.18–2.02 and HR 1.62; 95% CI: 1.21–2.13, respectively). Furthermore, the greatest increase in T2D risk was observed in women who snored regularly and slept less than 6 hours (HR 2.06; CI: 1.38–3.07). In addition to T2D risk, frequent snoring was associated with higher levels of HbA1c, C-peptide, and insulin. No significant associations were found between sleep duration and biomarkers.
These findings highlight the role sleep health might play in the progression from GDM to T2D, suggesting that interventions focusing on improving sleep could reduce T2D risk in women with a history of GDM. Limitations of the study include reliance on self-reported sleep data, and the homogeneity of the sample (mainly White women). Future research should consider ethnic diversity and more detailed assessments of sleep patterns to better understand their association with T2D.
Reference
Yin X et al. Sleep Characteristics and Long-Term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Women With Gestational Diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. 2025; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0142.
