Sleep quality and glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of sleep disorders, and the relationship between glycemic control and sleep characteristics in diabetic children and adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one pa tients followed for at least one year for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) aged 6-16 years old, and eighty-three group-matched healthy con trols were included in the study. Time in range (TIR) and hypoglycemia episode numbers were recorded using the freestyle libre sensor data. The sleep characteristics were evaluated using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) validated survey. The diabetic patients were tri chotomized according to SDSC scores, as low, medium, and high score groups. RESULTS: Sleep duration, SDSC total score, and subgroup scores except for sleep hyperhi drosis (3.11±1.53 vs. 2.16±0.85, p<0.001, respec tively) were similar (p>0.05) between the dia betic and control group. According to the sur vey, 1.6% of diabetic cases and 6.1% of the con trol group had clinically significant sleep distur bances (p>0.05). Duration of diabetes (DD) was lower (p=0.01), and the level of HbA1C was high er (p=0.02) in the high-score group than the oth ers. Regression analysis revealed that TIR was the only independent determinant for the SDSC score (β=-1.27, t=-1.90; p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep habits and problems should be routinely evaluated in diabetic chil dren and adolescents.