Does Sleep Duration, Napping, and Social Jetlag Predict Hemoglobin A1c among College Students with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?

AIMS: The first aim examined the relationship between sleep behaviors (duration, napping, and social jetlag) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among emerging young adults (EYAs) with T1DM between 18-25 years old, who are living on a college campus. The second aim characterized the gender differences in glucose management, sleep behaviors, caffeine intake, and nighttime technology.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of eligible participants used a convenience sample of eligible participants. Using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), participants completed surveys about diabetes management, caffeine intake, nighttime technology use, and sleep-related behaviors. Data were analyzed using correlation and multiple linear regression to predict HbA1c from sleep behaviors, adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS: Participants (N=76) average years with T1DM was 10.25±5.70. Compared to females, males had a longer sleep duration lower HbA1c levels. HbA1c levels were negatively correlated with weekday sleep (r=-0.24, p=0.03) and positively correlated with napping (r=0.34, p=0.003). After adjusting for covariates, participants who napped had a higher HbA1c level (β=0.74, p=0.03) compared with non-nappers.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher HbA1c levels were found among EYAs with T1DM in college who were nappers and had a longer sleep duration. Modifying sleep behaviors may be an appropriate target to improve glycemic control.