Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
Modeling and Evaluation of Murine Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Model
Published on: November 29, 2024
Reduced heart rate variability in people with type 1 diabetes and elevated diabetes distress: Results from the
Dominic Ehrmann1,2,3, Hannah Chatwin4,5, Andreas Schmitt1,3,6
1Research Institute Diabetes Academy Mergentheim (FIDAM), Bad Mergentheim, Germany.
Insights
Diabetes distress and poor glycemic control, including hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, are linked to reduced heart rate variability (HRV) in type 1 diabetes patients. These factors may impact cardiovascular health, underscoring the need for integrated care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Psychology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a CVD biomarker.
- Psychological stressors and glycemic parameters in T1D may influence HRV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between psychological stressors (diabetes distress, depressive symptoms) and glycemic parameters (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glycemic variability, HbA1c) with HRV in T1D.
- To assess the impact of these factors on daily HRV over 26 days.
Main Methods:
- Observational study (DIA-LINK1) with 149 T1D participants.
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and wrist-worn health tracker for daily glucose and HRV measurements over 26 days.
- Multilevel modeling to analyze associations between daily HRV and psychological/glycemic parameters.
Main Results:
- Elevated diabetes distress significantly correlated with lower HRV (β = -0.28, p = 0.004).
- Higher exposure to hyperglycemia (β = -0.44, p = 0.044), hypoglycemia (β = -0.18, p = 0.042), and higher HbA1c (β = -0.20, p = 0.018) were associated with reduced HRV.
- Depressive symptoms did not show a significant association with HRV (β = -0.18, p = 0.074).
Conclusions:
- Diabetes distress is a significant psychosocial factor impacting cardiovascular health in T1D.
- Glycemic dysregulation (hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, high HbA1c) is linked to reduced HRV.
- Integrated psychosocial care is crucial for managing cardiovascular risk in T1D.
Aims:
People with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a clinical marker for CVD. In this observational study using continuous HRV measurement across 26 days, we investigated whether psychological stressors (diabetes distress, depressive symptoms) and glycaemic parameters (hypo- and hyperglycaemic exposure, glycaemic variability and HbA1c ) are associated with lower HRV in people with type 1 diabetes.
Methods:
Data from the non-interventional prospective DIA-LINK1 study were analysed. At baseline, depressive symptoms and diabetes distress were assessed. Glucose values and HRV were recorded daily for 26 days using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and a wrist-worn health tracker respectively. Multilevel modelling with participant as nesting factor was used to analyse associations between day-to-day HRV and diabetes distress, depressive symptoms and CGM-derived parameters.
Results:
Data from 149 participants were analysed (age: 38.3 ± 13.1 years, HbA1c : 8.6 ± 1.9%). Participants with elevated diabetes distress had a significantly lower HRV across the 26 days compared to participants without elevated distress (β = -0.28; p = 0.004). Elevated depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with HRV (β = -0.18; p = 0.074). Higher daily exposure to hyperglycaemia (β = -0.44; p = 0.044), higher average exposure to hypoglycaemia (β = -0.18; p = 0.042) and higher HbA1c (β = -0.20; p = 0.018) were associated with reduced HRV across the 26 days. Sensitivity analysis with HRV averaged across all days corroborated these results.
Conclusions:
Diabetes distress is a clinically meaningful psychosocial stressor that could play a role in the cardiovascular health of people with type 1 diabetes. These findings highlight the need for integrated psychosocial care in diabetes management.
More Related Videos
05:58Mouse Electroacupuncture Fixation Device Fabrication for Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2025
05:06Author Spotlight: Integrating Tai Chi with Mindfulness Training to Achieve an Effective Mind-Body Exercise
Published on: July 14, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
01:36Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...