Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the work shift and diabetic patients.
Methods: A cross-section study was performed in a cohort of 95 type 2 diabetic patients that work in the Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the shift, day or night work. Patients underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations.
Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, diabetes duration, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting glucose, A1c (1%), triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, serum creatinine and uric acid. A higher average of waist circumference was found in the group of night workers.
Conclusion: Waist circumference was greater in the group of night workers; which may be indicative of insulin resistance in this group of patients. Our research indicates that the shift is not associated with a worsening of metabolic control in subjects or presence of diabetic nephropathy.