Association of the Korean Healthy Eating Index and sleep duration with prediabetes in middle-aged adults.

Background/objectives: Sleep duration and diet quality are reportedly associated with the risk of diabetes. This study aimed to examine the risk of diabetes according to sleep duration and diet quality in middle-aged Koreans.

Subjects/methods: Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2020, raw data from 2,934 participants aged 40-64 yrs (1,090 men and 1,844 women) who were not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were analyzed. With a sleep duration of 7-7.9 h per night as the referent category, diet quality was assessed using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), which comprises adequacy, moderation, and energy balance.

Results: The study results showed that individuals with a short sleep duration had significantly higher blood glucose (P = 0.034) and HbA1c levels (P < 0.001) than those had by individuals with a sleep duration of 7-7.9 h. Within the group with a sleep duration of 7-7.9 h, the lowest quintile of the KHEI score had a significantly higher risk of prediabetes than that had by the highest quintile of the KHEI score (Model 1: odds ratio [OR], 1.775; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072-2.939; P < 0.05 and Model 2: OR, 1.731; 95% CI, 1.040-2.882; P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that achieving the sleep duration of 7-7.9 h and eating good diet are associated with the lowest risk of prediabetes. We recommend that the results of this study be used to educate adults aged 40-64 yrs on diet and lifestyle habits to prevent diabetes.