In the first study to examine the relationship between sleep duration and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a multi-ethnic Asian population, researchers found insufficient sleep during pregnancy could lead to the development of GDM.

The study, published in the journal SLEEP, was inspired by prior research that showed diabetes is a major heath concern for people in Asia. Singapore has the second-highest proportion of diabetics among developed nations, according to a 2015 report by the International Diabetes Federation. Additionally, people in Singapore are among the most sleep-deprived in the world.

Other studies have suggested that insufficient sleep is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, mainly because sleep affects glucose metabolism, and high blood glucose levels can result in diabetes.

The SLEEP study, led by Joshua Gooley, a professor at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, and Cai Shirong, MD, from National University of Singapore, examined the sleep and glucose levels of 686 women. Participants represent three major race groups in Singapore—Chinese, Malay and Indian. They completed a sleep questionnaire and had their glucose levels measured at between 26 and 28 weeks of gestation. Of them, 19 percent were diagnosed with GDM.

"Our results raise the possibility that good sleep habits could reduce the likelihood of developing hyperglycemia and GDM," Gooley said. "With the recently launched 'war on diabetes' in Singapore, the importance of healthy sleep habits should be emphasized to doctors and patients, in addition to initiatives that are geared toward improving other lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise.”

The researchers then found that insufficient sleep, which was defined as less than six hours a night, was linked with greater odds of having GDM after adjusting for age, body mass index and GDM history. GDM was highest, at 27 percent, in women who slept less than six hours a night and was lowest, at 16 percent, in women who slept between seven and eight hours, which is consistent with other studies done on white and black women.

"Our study provides a better understanding of how we may be able to counter a potentially serious condition for pregnant women and her child," Cai said. "Additional studies are needed to assess the contribution of other modifiable lifestyle factors to GDM risk."