Sleep optimization to improve glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: study protocol for a randomized controlled parallel intervention trial

Background: Despite improvements in treatment regimens and technology, less than 20% of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) achieve glycemic targets. Sleep is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable target for improving glycemic control. Diabetes distress, poor self-management behaviors, and reduced quality of life have also been linked to sleep variability and insufficient sleep duration. A significant gap of knowledge exists regarding interventions to improve sleep and the effects of sleep optimization on glycemic control in T1D. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a T1D-specific sleep optimization intervention (Sleep-Opt) on the primary outcomes of sleep variability, sleep duration, and glycemic control (A1C); other glycemic parameters (glycemic variability, time-in-range [TIR]); diabetes distress; self-management behaviors; quality of life; and other patient-reported outcomes in adults with T1D and habitual increased sleep variability or short sleep duration.

Methods: A randomized controlled parallel-arm study will be employed in 120 adults (aged 18 to 65 years) with T1D. Participants will be screened for habitual sleep variability (> 1 h/week) or insufficient sleep duration (< 6.5 h per night). Eligible subjects will be randomized to the Sleep-Opt intervention group or healthy living attention control group for 12 weeks. A 1-week run-in period is planned, with baseline measures of sleep by actigraphy (sleep variability and duration), glycemia (A1C and related glycemic measures: glycemic variability and TIR using continuous glucose monitoring), and other secondary outcomes: diabetes distress, self-management behaviors, quality of life, and additional patient-reported outcomes. Sleep-Opt is a technology-assisted behavioral sleep intervention that we recently developed that leverages the rapidly increasing public interest in sleep tracking. Our behavioral intervention employs four elements: a wearable sleep tracker, didactic content, an interactive smartphone application, and brief telephone counseling. The attention control group will participate in a healthy living information program. Baseline measures will be repeated at midpoint, program completion, and post-program (weeks 6, 12, and 24, respectively) to determine differences between the two groups and sustainability of the intervention.

Discussion: A better understanding of strategies to improve sleep in persons with T1D has the potential to be an important component of diabetes.

Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04506151 .