Sleep-wake Characteristics, Daytime Sleepiness, and Glycemia in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Study Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe objective sleep-wake characteristics and glycemia over 7-14 days in young adults with type 1 diabetes. In addition, person-level associations among objective sleep-wake characteristics (total sleep time, sleep variability, and sleep fragmentation index), daytime sleepiness, and glycemia (glycemic control and glucose variability) were examined.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, objective sleep-wake characteristics were measured via actigraphy and glucose variability via continuous glucose monitoring over 6-14 days. At baseline, participants completed the Psychomotor Vigilance Test, the Trail Making Test, and questionnaires on daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and sleep disturbance including sleep diaries.

Results: Forty-six participants (mean age, 22.3 ± 3.2 years) wore a wrist actigraph and underwent continuous glucose monitoring concurrently for 6-14 days. Greater sleep variability was directly associated with greater glucose variability (mean of daily differences; = .33, = .036). Higher daytime sleepiness was directly associated with greater glucose variability (mean of daily differences; = .50, = .001). The association between sleep variability and glucose variability (mean of daily differences) was no longer significant when accounting for daytime sleepiness and controlling for type 1 diabetes duration ( > .05). A higher sleep fragmentation index was associated with greater glucose variability ( = 1.27, = .010, 2 = 0.40) after controlling for type 1 diabetes duration and accounting for higher daytime sleepiness.

Conclusions: Sleep-wake variability, sleep fragmentation, daytime sleepiness, and the associations with glycemia are new dimensions to consider in young adults with type 1 diabetes. Sleep habits in this population may explain higher glucose variability, and optimizing sleep may improve overall diabetes management.

Citation: Griggs S, Hickman RL Jr, Strohl KP, Redeker NS, Crawford SL, Grey M. Sleep-wake characteristics, daytime sleepiness, and glycemia in young adults with type 1 diabetes. 2021;17(9):1865-1874.