Periodic Limbic Movement Disorder during Sleep as Diabetes-Related Syndrome? A Polysomnographic Study

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMs) is common in the elderly.

When quality-of-life drops due to sleep disturbances, we speak about periodic limb movement disorder during sleep (PLMD).

Another similar disorder, restless legs syndrome (RLS), is considered to be related to diabetes; RLS and PLMDs are genetically related.

Our aim was to detect PLMDs in a population of diabetic patients and identify them as possible hallmarks of these autonomic disorders.

Material and Methods.

We selected 41 type-2 diabetics with no sleep comorbidity, and compared them with 38 healthy matched volunteers.

All participants underwent the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and polysomnography (PSG).

A periodic limb movement (PLM) index >5, that is, the higher number of PLMs/sleep hour for the entire night, was considered as abnormal.

Results.

Diabetics showed lower sleep efficiency than controls on the ESS, lower proportions of REM and non-REM sleep, and higher arousal and PLM indexes, as assessed through PSG.

PLMDs were diagnosed in 13 of 41 diabetic patients (31%); the latter showed lower sleep efficiency, lower non-REM slow-wave sleep, and increased arousal and PLM indexes.

Conclusion.

The relationship between PLMs-related sleep fragmentation and endocrine carbohydrate metabolism regulation might be casual or genetically determined.

This deserves further investigations.