Short-term metabolic control and sleep in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Aims The aim of this study was to examine sleep in T1D children and in healthy controls by polysomnographic (PSG) examination and to determine the influence of short-term metabolic compensation on sleep quality and sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Methods The prospective cross-sectional study included 44 T1D subjects and 60 healthy controls, aged 10–19 years. Subjects underwent anthropometric measurements, laboratory testing and standard overnight in-laboratory video polysomnography with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Results No significant differences were found in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, percentage of sleep stages and respiratory parameters between T1D and healthy group. T1D children with more optimal short-term metabolic control (AvgSG < 10 mmol/l, n = 18) had a significantly lower apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (0.3(0–0.5) vs. 0.6 (0.2–0.9) events/h, p < 0.05)and respiratory arousal index (0(0–0,1) vs. 0.2(0–0.3)), p < 0.01) compared to children with suboptimal short-term control(n = 26), no significant differences were found in parameters of sleep architecture. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was diagnosed in only one T1D patient, nine T1D children had mild central apnea. Conclusions There may be an association between short-term metabolic compensation and SDB in T1D children without chronic complications, obesity or overweight and hypoglycemia. Further research is needed to confirm this result.