A Randomized Pilot Cognitive Behavioral Sleep Health Trial for Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine whether a cognitive-behavioral sleep health self-management intervention (CB-Sleep Health) would be more effective than a time-balanced attention control (AC) condition in improving multiple dimensions of sleep health (self-reported and objectively derived).

Young adults with T1D (ages 18-26 years) were randomly assigned to a 12-week CB-Sleep Health (n = 21) or AC condition (n = 18). They wore concurrent continuous glucose monitors and actigraphy devices and completed daily sleep surveys for 14 days at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.

Of the randomized participants, 31 (79.5%) completed the post-intervention, while 33 (84.6%) completed the 3-month follow-up. The CB-Sleep Health intervention had a significant effect on alertness and duration compared to the control group. The changes from baseline were -3.21 s vs. +0.71, p = .005 and +18 min vs. -25.8 min, p = .01, respectively. These effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up.

Longer sleep duration, higher daytime alertness, and sustained sleep efficiency are possible with this CB-Sleep Health intervention in young adults managing a complex condition.