Sleep conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have long been associated with a myriad of co-morbidities, including diabetes. This means that decreasing such co-morbidities may help improve sleep. At The Insomnia and Sleep Institute of Arizona, we are committed to a holistic and comprehensive approach to better sleep, which includes addressing associated issues. The good news is that a recent report found that increased focus on diabetes care has been linked with lower glucose levels in young patients—and, in turn, better sleep.
The study, included in Diabetic Medicine, focused specifically on adolescents and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was found that the participants had lower levels of glucose on days where they self-reported being “more engaged with their diabetes management.” According to one of the authors,
In adolescents and young adults with diabetes, daily personal factors such as self-esteem, health perception, and plans or desire to self-manage diabetes all impact day-to-day glycemia. These daily predictors could be considered novel targets for interventions to help support adolescents in their diabetes care, especially around helping to motivate planning and desire to manage diabetes first thing in the morning.
Diabetes Study Details
The research team undertook a longitudinal study for two weeks. There were 88 adolescents who participated in total, all of whom had type 1 diabetes and regularly used an insulin pump or pen and used apps to manage their condition. The mean age was 17.6 years, almost all were white (90 percent), and there were slightly more females than males (54 percent). All downloaded insulin delivery information at the end of the period. Additionally, on six of those days, they filled out an engagement prediction survey that asked 25 questions on biopsychosocial factors that might affect diabetes management on a daily basis. These questions were asked in the morning, and all answered via a Likert scale. At the end of those days, participants also filled out a goal survey that assessed how well they attained diabetes management.
Researchers found that the average time in range fluctuated 16 percent while the mean absolute sensor glucose shifted by 30.4 mg/dL each day for every person. There was also a mean absolute change in how many boluses were administered, fluctuating at 2.2 per day. There were seven questions in the engagement prediction survey that were earmarked as “most predictive of glycemic outcomes.” Those responses were used to predict a 28.7 percent variability in diabetes management for goal attainment, 18.6 percent mean sensor glucose variability, 16.7 percent time in range variability, 14 percent variability in hyperglycemia response, and a 2.1 percent variance in bolus numbers.
Glucose and Sleep
Those who reported sleeping longer and sleeping better the previous night also planned to manage their diabetes the next day more often. They understandably also reported feeling healthier—and had lower glucose levels. However, those who self-reported being “too sick to manage their diabetes” or said they needed extra support had higher glucose levels in the morning. The participants on average say they spend about 30 minutes in active diabetes management daily and 30 minutes “thinking about their diabetes” every day. How many minutes spent thinking about the disease was linked to hyperglycemia alert responses as well as “perceived goal attainment.”
Additionally, the amount of time in active diabetes management was linked positively with goal attainment. The researchers say they were “most surprised that these factors predicted overall time in range; however, we were not able to explain how often the adolescent gave insulin doses for meals.”
What This Means for You
If you have diabetes, lack of sleep can exacerbate the disease (and vice versa). While this study looked at a very niche cohort, and only considered type 1 diabetes, it is still a helpful tool in exemplifying the co-morbidities between sleep and diseases like diabetes. Managing a disease like diabetes well can positively affect your sleep. That’s why treating all conditions is paramount and it is critical to assemble a medical team for your best care.
When it comes to treating sleep conditions like insomnia, OSA, and more, help is available. Contact The Insomnia and Sleep Institute today by calling the office or, for an even faster response, complete the online contact form.
