Longer sleep duration linked to progression of diabetic nephropathy

by Elana Gotkine

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Alexander Pol

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For adults with type 2 diabetes, longer sleep duration is associated with an increased risk for incidence and progression of diabetic nephropathy, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Fuki Ikeda, from Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine in Tokyo, and colleagues examined the association between sleep duration and a composite end point of incidence and progression of diabetic nephropathy in a study involving 678 Japanese outpatients aged 25 years and older and younger than 70 years with type 2 diabetes. At baseline and at years 2 and/or 5, lifestyle habits were assessed and mean values of lifestyle factors were calculated.

The researchers found that 215 participants experienced the end point during a follow-up of 6.0 ± 2.7 years. Mean sleep duration was the only lifestyle factor associated with the end point. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were 1.08, 1.56 and 1.92 for mean sleep duration of 6 to <7, 7 to <8 and ≥8 versus <6 hours, respectively. After adjustment for key lifestyle and diabetes-related factors, this association remained significant. In older participants and those with microalbuminuria or reduced kidney function, the association was stronger.

"Our findings suggest that longer sleep duration may provide a useful clue to identify people with diabetes who may need closer attention to their kidney health," co-author Tomoya Mita, M.D., Ph.D., also from the Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, said in a statement. "At the same time, people should not interpret our findings as a recommendation to reduce their sleep, since this was an observational study and we cannot establish a causal relationship between sleep duration and kidney disease."

Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical and medical technology industries.

More information

Fuki Ikeda et al., Longer sleep duration and the incidence and progression of diabetic nephropathy: a prospective cohort study, Journal of the Endocrine Society (2026). DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvag201

Key medical concepts

Diabetic Kidney ProblemsDiabetes Type 2

Clinical categories

NephrologySleep & RecoveryEndocrinologySleep medicine Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

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