Sleep Disturbances in Type 1 Diabetes and Mitigating Cardiovascular Risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Despite control of known cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and better glycemic management, persons with T1D still face heightened CVD risk, suggesting additional contributing factors. Sleep has recently been recognized as a CV risk factor; however; the role of sleep in CVD specifically in T1D population has only started to emerge. Extensive evidence suggests that persons with T1D often encounter sleep disturbances. This review aims to comprehensively explore the relationship between sleep disturbances and CVD in T1D, proposed possible mediators including glycemic control, which has been studied more extensively, and less studied factors such as blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and weight management. Stress and self-care behaviors likely also play a role in the relationship between sleep disturbances and CVD. The evidence regarding sleep interventions in the context of T1D in mitigating these CV risk factors has recently been shown in early, small-scale studies. Sleep assessments should be a part of the standard of care in persons with T1D. Further research should focus on understanding the impact and mechanistic pathways of sleep disturbances on CV risk and developing T1D-specific sleep interventions to reduce CVD burden in this population.