Maternal Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Pregnancy Increases Nocturnal Glucose Levels in Women with Gestational Diabetes

BACKGROUND: Women with hyperglycemia during pregnancy are at high risk for adverse perinatal outcomes. Maternal sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during pregnancy is common and is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, the relationship between SDB severity and glucose control is unknown.RESEARCH QUESTION: Is there an association between SDB severity and glucose levels as assessed by continuous glucose monitoring in GDM?STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Women with GDM underwent sleep recordings and 72-hour continuous glucose monitoring. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), rapid eye movement (REM)-AHI, and non-REM-AHI with mean glucose levels during nighttime (two periods: 11 PM to 3 AM and 3 AM to 6 AM), daytime (8 AM to 9 PM), and 24-hours. Models were adjusted for BMI and antihyperglycemic medications.RESULTS: In 65 participants who were 35 +/- 5 (mean +/- SD) years of age with BMI of 33 +/- 7 kg/m(2), 31% were undergoing insulin and/or metformin therapy. A ten-unit increase in AHI was associated with elevated nocturnal glucose levels (11 PM to 3 AM: 0.20 mmol/L [95% CI, 0.04-0.40]) with persistent elevations into the morning (8 AM: 0.26 mmol/L [95% CI, 0.08-0.4]) when adjusted for BMI and medications. REM-AHI was also associated with higher nocturnal and morning glucose levels, whereas non-REM was not. AHI was not associated with either mean daytime or 24-hour glucose levels.INTERPRETATION: Greater severity of SDB was associated with higher nocturnal and morning glucose levels in women with GDM.