الفهرس 
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Abstract
The advent of the 24 hour society has resulted in a need for greater flexibility in working time patterns and, in many cases, an increase in night working. In the twentieth century, night working was associated with manufacturing in larger plants where three eight hour shifts tended to be a typical pattern with full time employees alternating between early, middle and late shifts. Similar rotational shift patterns were also characteristic of public sector activities such as the health service and the police service.
Shift work exerts major influences on the physiological functions of the human body. These are primarily mediated by the disruption of circadian rhythms since most body functions are circadian rhythmic. Next to the disturbances caused by changes in the circadian system, shift work has also been suggested to be related to a number of other health disorders. Several studies have suggested that rotating night shift work is associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome conditions closely related to type 2 diabetes. Several cohort studies reported an increased risk of impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes compared with day workers.
Objectives of the study:
1. To determine prevalence of blood glucose abnormalities among Abo-korkas sugar factory workers.
2. To explore the impact of rotating night shifts on glycemic state and control of diabetes mellitus.
Subjects and methods:
Type of study: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Abo-Korkas sugar factory, located 20 Km south to El-Minia city, El-Minia governorate, Egypt, during the period from March 2013 to May 2014.
Study population: 330 male workers of Abo- Korkas Sugar factory during the period from March 2013 to May 2014.
Data collection: By a designed questionnaire including demographic data and items regarding complications of diabetes. Weight, height and waist circumference was measured and fasting and post-prandial blood glucose were identified.
HbA1C was measured for diabetic workers.
Results:
This study included 330 male workers; whose ages ranged from 20 to 59 years with a mean of (43.2±8.6). Based on the work schedules, 111 (33.6%) were day-time workers, 60 (18.2%) and 159 (48.2%) were formerly and currently engaged in rotating night shift work, respectively.
Regarding the history of hypertension, the former and current night shift workers reported significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (20%) and (5.7%), respectively, than the day-time ones (4.5%).
No statistical significant differences were observed between study groups regarding BMI, waist circumference and smoking status.
In this study 16.3% of the studied workers were known to have diabetes mellitus, 2.1% were newly diagnosed as diabetics; and 5.2% were pre-diabetics.
Serum fasting blood glucose level was significantly higher among current and former night shift workers (101.1±38.5) and (118.9±48.8), respectively compared to day-time workers (97.3±26.5).