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The Diabetes Educator, Vol. 34, No. 2, 218-234 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0145721708314180
© 2008 American Association of Diabetes Educators; Published by SAGE Publications

TODAY'S EDUCATOR

Restless Legs Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetes

Implications to Diabetes Educators

Norma G. Cuellar, DSN, RN and Sarah J. Ratcliffe, PhD

From the School of Nursing (Dr Cuellar) and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics School of Medicine (Dr Ratcliffe) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Correspondence to Norma G. Cuellar, DSN, RN, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Claire Fagin Bldg, 418 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6096 (ncuellar{at}nursing.upenn.edu).

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to provide a background of restless legs syndrome (RLS), present the prevalence and demographic findings of a descriptive study of type 2 diabetes with RLS, and provide implications to diabetes educators on the management and education of RLS.

Methods

Participants with type 2 diabetes who met the diagnostic criteria for RLS based on the International RLS Study Group Criteria were recruited from the PENN Rodebaugh Diabetes Center from July 2005 through September 2006. Participants who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were mailed a survey to collect data.

Results

Of 121 patients with type 2 diabetes, 54 (45%) of the screened sample met the 4 diagnostic criteria for RLS. Of those who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the primary study, 18 patients with type 2 diabetes with RLS participated in this study. Along with diabetes, the participants had a variety of comorbid health conditions including hypertension, neuropathies, rheumatoid arthritis, renal failure, and irritable bowel syndrome. Only one third of the participants were being treated for RLS. Thirty-nine percent of the participants with type 2 diabetes were using insulin to manage their diabetes with other oral agents.

Conclusions

RLS is a sleep disorder that may affect the management of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes educators must know that sleep disorders can affect long-term health outcomes, and RLS is frequently seen in this cohort of patients.


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