Sleep disturbances appear to increase the risk of developing Diabetes in men but not in women, according to a Swedish study.

Dr. Lena Mallon, from University Hospital in Uppsala and her associates sent questionnaires regarding sleep complaints and other possible risk factors for Diabetes to a random sample of subjects who were 45 to 65 years old in 1983, and again in 1995. A total of 1187 subjects completed both questionnaires.

During that interval, Diabetes developed in 6 percent of women and 9 percent of men, according to a report in the medical journal Diabetes Care.

After adjusting for age and other risk factors, including high blood pressure, snoring, weight and depression, the team found that the risk of Diabetes was nearly three-fold higher for men who got no more than 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night, and nearly five times higher for men with difficulties maintaining sleep.

However, sleep variables were not tied to Diabetes in women in the study.

The researchers say there are several ways that lack of sleep might lead to Diabetes. One possibility is that poor sleep is related to activation of the stress system, another is that sleep debt may impact carbohydrate metabolism.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, November 2005.