Abstract
Introduction
Circadian alignment is an important element in individual health, and one behavioral marker, rest-activity rhythm (RAR), may influence disease management in young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Thus, in this descriptive study, we examined whether circadian rhythm is correlated with symptoms (emotional and diabetes distress, and diabetes physical symptom burden) and glucose variability in young adults with T1D.
Methods
Using convenience sampling, young adults with T1D underwent concurrent actigraphy and continuous glucose monitoring for 6–14 days to generate the following RAR parameters: (MESOR, amplitude, acrophase, and circadian quotient) and glucose variability indices (coefficient of variation and time in range). Participants completed the 8-item Epworth Sleepiness Scale, 8-item PROMIS v1.0 Emotional Distress Scale, 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale, and 34-item Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Revised. Cosinor analysis was used to compute the RAR parameters and linear regression modeling procedures were performed to determine the associations among the study variables.
Results
The sample included 46 young adults (mean age 22.3±3.2; 32.6% male; 84.8% non-Hispanic White, A1C mean 7.2±1.1%, BMI 27.0±4.4 kg/m2). A more robust rhythm (higher amplitude) was associated with a lower diabetes symptom burden (ß=-0.31, p=.035). A higher circadian quotient was associated with less daytime sleepiness (ß=-0.41, p=.004). All associations between the RAR parameters and symptom measures remained statistically significant (p<.05) after adjustment for sex and BMI. The associations between the RAR parameters and glucose variability indices were not significant.
Conclusion
RAR was associated with daytime sleepiness, as well as symptom burden in young adults with T1D even after consideration of sex and BMI. Future investigators should clarify the causality of these associations and the potential for improving the strength and stability of RAR in the mitigation of daytime sleepiness and symptoms.
Support (if any)
This research is or was partially supported by grants from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (220-BS-19), National Institute of Nursing Research (K99NR018886 & T32NR0008346), Sigma Theta Tau International, and Dexcom provided continuous glucose monitors (G4) free of charge for participants who did not have a device.
