A Sleep Intervention in Type 1 Diabetes

Insufficient sleep and sleep irregularity (variability in sleep duration) are increasingly recognized as important contributors to glucose control and diabetes distress in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Up to 40% of adults with T1D had a sleep duration less than 6-6.5 hours per night. Diabetes distress is reported (40% prevalence) in individuals with T1D and is associated with poor glucose control. Despite findings that sleep disturbances are common in T1D, the current understanding of the effects of strategies to improve sleep on diabetes distress, and glucose control is limited. The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects of a sleep intervention on sleep duration, diabetes distress and glucose control in individuals with T1D and habitual short sleep. A randomized controlled trial in 20 adults aged 18 to 65 years with T1D is proposed. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to a sleep intervention group or a control group. Differences between the two groups on the outcomes of sleep duration, diabetes distress and glucose control will be evaluated. Findings from this proposed pilot study will serve as the foundation for a larger clinical trial to improve sleep, reduce diabetes distress, and improve glucose control.