Sleep disturbances in patients with diabetic neuropathy

Abstract EN

Background Sleep complaints are particularly common in patients with medical illness.

Up to one third of individuals with diabetes report sleep difficulties.

Aim of the work To study sleep disturbances in patients with diabetic neuropathy and the effect of treatment with carbamazepine ; to achieve better management and better quality of life for those patients.

Subjects and methods We studied 30 patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Tliey were subjected to full clinical and neurological assessment, sleep history, routine laboratory investigation, nerve conduction study of peripheral nerves and overnight polysomnographic study (PSG).

The PSG assessment was repeated after one month from the treatment of carbamazepine.

Twenty healthy subjects were selected as a control group.

Results Remarkable increased in sleep latency, increased arousal index, decreased sleep efficiency, decreased stage 3 NREM sleep, delayed SWS latency, increased in PLM indices, and decreased REM sleep percentages were found in the patients group.

Carbamazepine therapy for one month was found to improve sleep continuity, increase the depth of sleep and decrease periodic limb movement.

Conclusion Sleep disturbances in patients with diabetic neuropathy are common.

Quality of life is affected and coping with the disease is made difficult by sleep disorders.

Carbamazepine was effective in improving sleep in diabetic patients.

Physicians must be able to recognize, diagnose and manage this disturbance in tlxeir patients, when they occur.