Poor sleep quality is often associated with reduced control of blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, according to a report from the University of Chicago. The recent findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, highlight an inexpensive way to improve the health of patients with the disease--getting a good night's sleep.

In the study of 161 African-American patients undergoing treatment for type 2 diabetes, the researchers surveyed participants about sleep habits and assessed blood sugar control by charting the patient's HbA1C. Normal HbA1C is between four and six percent; patients with diabetes are considered to be under good control if they keep HbA1C levels at seven percent or lower. In the Chicago study, only six percent reported getting eight hours of sleep and only 22 percent reported at least seven hours. The median HbA1C for study participants was 8.3 percent.

"Our findings suggest that, at least in this study population, short or poor sleep is associated with decreased blood-sugar control in patients who already have diabetes," Kristen Knutson, lead author of the study and research associate at the University of Chicago, said. "The growing tendency to burn the candle at both ends may be a significant contributor to the current epidemic of diabetes, One way to slow down this epidemic may be to avoid building a chronic sleep debt."