Postprandial hyperglycemia and sleep quality can influence vascular function; however, their combined effects on arterial stiffness remain unclear. This study published in Diabetology included 104 healthy middle-aged and older adults aged 50–83 years and examined whether sleep quality modifies postprandial changes in blood glucose and arterial stiffness following a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) at baseline and 60 minutes after the OGTT. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with poor sleep defined as a score >5.5. Overall, 51 participants were classified as having poor sleep quality and 53 as having good sleep quality.

In the poor-sleep-quality group, baPWV increased significantly from baseline to 60 minutes after the OGTT (p<0.01), whereas no such change was observed in the good-sleep-quality group. In addition, baPWV at 60 minutes post-OGTT was significantly higher in the poor-sleep-quality group than the good-sleep-quality group (p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed between baPWV and blood glucose levels at 60 minutes (r=0.64, p < 0.01).

These findings suggest that poor sleep quality may enhance postprandial hyperglycemia-related increases in arterial stiffness, whereas good sleep quality may help protect vascular function.