A new study published in the journal Diabetologia found that compared with the general population, patients with mental illness have an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Mental illness is very common, affecting the quality of life and increasing mortality. The increase in mortality is due to more suicides and accidents and increased risks of mental illness-related physical diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Diabetes is a disease that affects 6% to 9% of the global population. Since 1990, interest rates have risen steadily, and they are expected to continue to do so in the next 20 years.

The study found that patients with sleep disorders have the highest incidence of T2D, 40% of subjects have the disease, while the prevalence of patients with other mental disorders is 21% (bulimia), 16% (substance use disorder), and 14% (Anxiety disorder), 11% (bipolar disorder) and 11% (psychopathy). The prevalence of T2D is the lowest among people with intellectual disabilities, with 8% of people suffering from this disease. In each case, these rates are as high or higher than the 6-9% T2D levels found in the general population.

The authors say that this type of physical comorbidity may lead to high estimates of the prevalence of T2D in people with sleep problems. The T2D-sleep disorder link is expected to be two-way. Diabetes, especially when combined with poor metabolic control, can increase the risk of sleep disorders and vice versa.