Objective: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of sleep disorders, and the relationship between glycemic control and sleep characteristics in diabetic children and adolescents.
Patients and methods: Sixty-one patients followed for at least one year for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) aged 6-16 years old, and eighty-three group-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Time in range (TIR) and hypoglycemia episode numbers were recorded using the freestyle libre sensor data. The sleep characteristics were evaluated using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) validated survey. The diabetic patients were trichotomized according to SDSC scores, as low, medium, and high score groups.
Results: Sleep duration, SDSC total score, and subgroup scores except for sleep hyperhidrosis (3.11±1.53 vs. 2.16±0.85, p<0.001, respectively) were similar (p>0.05) between the diabetic and control group. According to the survey, 1.6% of diabetic cases and 6.1% of the control group had clinically significant sleep disturbances (p>0.05). Duration of diabetes (DD) was lower (p=0.01), and the level of HbA1C was higher (p=0.02) in the high-score group than the others. Regression analysis revealed that TIR was the only independent determinant for the SDSC score (β=-1.27, t=-1.90; p=0.012).
Conclusions: Sleep habits and problems should be routinely evaluated in diabetic children and adolescents.