Sleep and Glucose Intolerance/Diabetes Mellitus

The sleep state itself has modulatory effects on glucose homeostasis. Epidemiologic and experimental studies suggest that sleep loss and sleep disturbances are detrimental to metabolic function and may predispose to obesity or glucose intolerance. Apart from the common risk factor of obesity, increasing data also support that obstructive sleep apnea exerts independent adverse effects on glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus, although definitive evidence is still needed.