Chronotype and well-being in adults with established type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

'Chronotype' describes an individual's sleep-wake schedule, and can be classified into morning, intermediate or evening types. Evening chronotype has been widely associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and mortality in people with type 2 diabetes. We explored associations between chronotype and markers of well-being in people with type 2 diabetes. Participants of the 'Chronotype of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Effect on Glycaemic Control' (CODEC) observational study completed questionnaires to determine chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, MEQ) and concurrent measures of well-being (Diabetes-related Distress scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to measure depression, and Self-Compassion Scale), as a secondary endpoint of the study. Adjusted generalised linear models were used to compare well-being between chronotype subgroups in this cohort. Of the 808 individuals included in the CODEC study, from convenience sampling, 476 individuals completed the psychosocial questionnaire substudy. Of these, 67% (n=321) were male, and 86% (n=408) were white European. From the MEQ, 24% (n=114) were morning chronotype, 24% (n=113) were evening and 52% (n=249) were intermediate chronotype. Diabetes-related distress was significantly higher in evening chronotypes (exponentiated adjusted coefficient=1.18 (CI: 1.05-1.32)), compared to morning (padjusted =0.005) and intermediate chronotypes (padjusted =0.039). Similarly, depression was significantly higher in evening chronotypes (exponentiated adjusted coefficient=1.84 (CI: 1.28-2.65)) compared to morning (padjusted =0.001) and intermediate chronotypes (padjusted =0.016). Evening chronotype in people with type 2 diabetes may be associated with higher levels of diabetes-related distress and depression. These findings warrant further investigation to establish causality and evidence-based interventions that negate the effects of evening chronotype in people with type 2 diabetes.