Sleep coach intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Rationale and trial design.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Behavioral Science
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Most adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) do not meet glycemic targets, increasing complication risks.
• Poor sleep negatively impacts insulin sensitivity and executive function, hindering T1D management.
• Novel interventions are needed to improve diabetes care in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a sleep-promoting behavioral intervention (Sleep Coach) for adolescents with T1D.
• To assess the intervention's effects on sleep duration, variability, executive function, and glycemic outcomes.
• To determine if individualized sleep coaching improves diabetes management.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 150 adolescents (11-17 years) with T1D.
• Intervention group received sleep coaching; control group received enhanced usual care.
• Primary outcomes (sleep duration/timing) and secondary outcomes (executive function, glycemic control) assessed over 12 months.

Main Results:

• Adolescents in the Sleep Coach group are hypothesized to show significantly longer sleep duration and reduced sleep variability.
• The intervention is expected to positively impact executive function and glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c, Time in Range).

Conclusions:

• The Sleep Coach intervention shows potential for improving cognitive and glycemic outcomes in adolescents with T1D.
• This remotely deliverable behavioral intervention could be widely disseminated.
• Improved sleep may be a key factor in better diabetes management for adolescents.