Neuroimaging perspective in targeted treatment for type 2 diabetes melitus and sleep disorders

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and sleep disorders (SD) have become important and costly health issues worldwide, particularly in China. Both are common diseases related to brain functional and structural abnormalities involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The brains of individuals who suffer from both diseases simultaneously might be different compared to healthy individuals. This review assessed current neuroimaging findings to develop alternative targeted treatments for T2DM and SD. Relevant articles published between January 2002 and September 2021 were searched in PubMed and Web of Science databases. Generalized treatment methods for T2DM include dietary/weight-loss management, metformin or a combination of two non-insulin drugs, and melatonin for SD, though alternative therapies including electroacupuncture (EA) have been utilized in treating both of these diseases separately because they are convenient, affordable, and safe. Standard and alternative treatments for T2DM were somehow effective in treating SD. Neuroimaging studies of these disorders can achieve higher treatment efficacy by targeting brain areas, such as the hypothalamus (HYP), as visualized via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). DTI and fMRI can map the human brain and are utilized in many experiments. Thus, we propose that neuroimaging studies could be used in treatment of SD in T2DM.