The effect of family history of diabetes on sleep quality, depression, and anxiety in adult males with diabetes

Study Objectives: This study evaluated how a family history of diabetes moderates the effects of diabetes on anxiety, depression, as well as sleep quality. Design: Outpatients with diabetes responded to questionnaires on family history of diabetes, sleep quality, anxiety and depression. Participants: Participants were recruited from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois. All participants were adult males (n = 33) with ages ranging from 50 to 88 and were diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. There were 8 subjects without a family history of diabetes and 25 subjects with family history of diabetes. Results: In comparison to those with a family history of diabetes, patients without a family history of diabetes were found to experience a poorer quality of sleep, evaluated on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] (t = 3.62, p = 0.001). Anxiety, depression, family history and the Interaction of family history with depression were found to be significant predictors of sleep quality (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients without a family history of diabetes exhibit more anxiety and depression and have more sleep problems than those patients who have a family history of diabetes. Presumably a family history of diabetes better informs and prepares these patients for the many unique problems associated with diabetes thereby decreasing disease related anxiety and depression.