Abstract
Study Objectives To assess differences in habitual sleep patterns and sleep states between children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and control subjects, and to explore the relationships between sleep, glucose levels, and glycemic control. Methods Participants included 82 children (5-18 years); 41 with T1DM (cases), and 41 healthy control subjects group matched for age and sex. Sleep was measured by 7-day actigraphy and single-night home-based polysomnography (PSG) recordings. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and 7 days of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data were collected in cases. Regression analyses were used to model all within- and between-group comparisons adjusted for age, sex, and BMI z-scores. Results There were no significant differences in sleep duration, efficiency, or awakenings as measured by actigraphy and PSG between cases and controls, nor sleep states measured by PSG. However, cases had significantly later sleep onset and offset than controls (both p < 0.05), partially moderated by age. Cases with suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c >= 58 mmol/mol [>= 7.5%]) had significantly shorter actigraphy-derived total sleep time (TST) (mean difference = -40 minutes; 95% confidence interval = -77, -3), with similar differences in TST measured by PSG. Cases with mean CGM glucose levels >= 10 mmol/L (>= 180 mg/dL) on PSG night had significantly more stage N3 (%) sleep and less stage REM (%) sleep (both p < 0.05). Conclusions Short- and long-term suboptimal glycemic control in T1DM children appears to be associated with sleep alterations. Pediatric diabetes care teams should be aware of potential interrelationships between sleep and T1DM, including management and glycemic control.