Tools to decrease hypoglycemia may improve sleep quality in young diabetics: Study

Diabetes-related sleep disturbance is a common event in the youth suffering from Type-1 diabetes as well as their parents. To achieve quality sleep, increased time-in-range (TIR, 70-180 mg/dL) and decreased time in hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) may be beneficial.

A study was conducted by a group of U.S.A researchers to assess the linkages between pediatric blood sugar levels and quality sleep measures.

The researchers conducted an observational study, wherein they selected a total of 26 children belonging to the age group of 3-17 years and their one parent each. All the participants had their sleep and glycemia data collected. Time-in-range and the duration of hypoglycemia were observed for an entire day, and the data obtained were compared with total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, wake-time after sleep onset (WASO), and several awakenings. They utilized 'Linear mixed models' to evaluate the associations between the sleep variables with Time-in-range and hypoglycemia.

The findings were as follows:

• Hypoglycemia was significantly associated with the youth's wake-time after sleep onset, awakenings, and total sleep time.
• Time-in-range was not significantly associated with sleep measures.
• Lastly, time in hypoglycemia was linked strongly with more nocturnal awakenings and wake-time after sleep onset in children with Type-1 diabetes.

The authors concluded that tools to decrease hypoglycemia can be crucial to improve sleep quality for youth with Type-1 diabetes. However, an association between hypoglycemia and a child's total sleep time established by this study remains an unexpected finding and will require further probing. Additionally, bigger sample size will be required to definitely affirm the associations between glycemic outcomes and quality sleep measures.

Reference:

A study titled,"157-LB: Association of Glycemic Ranges and Sleep Measures in Youth with T1D and Their Parents" by Karami A et. al presented at American Diabetes Association (ADA) 81st Scientific Sessions.