Circadian Mechanisms, Glucose, and CV Risks in T1D

Circadian Mechanisms of Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Short and irregular sleep have been associated with cardiovascular risk in this population. Improving sleep regularity has been associated with improved glycemic markers however mechanisms by which improving sleep regularity improves metabolic and cardiovascular health is not known. The investigators propose to conduct a mechanistic study using a sleep stability manipulation. This proposal will advance the understanding of mechanisms by which improving sleep regularity influences glycemic control and cardiovascular risk in T1D.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Sleep stability intervention

Detailed Description

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a leading cause of death in T1D, contributing to 40% of mortality. Sleep is recognized by both the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association as a critical health behavior to maintain glycemic control and reduce CVD risk. Short and/or irregular sleep have been associated with reduced glycemic control and non-dipping blood pressure in T1D, both of which are predictors of CV events. Emerging data suggest that behavioral sleep interventions targeting short or irregular sleep led to improved glycemic parameters. However, little is known about the mechanism by which improving sleep duration and/or regularity improves glycemic control and reduces CV risk in T1D. The investigators and others have shown that people with T1D often experience poor sleep health, including inadequate sleep duration, sleep irregularity, and poor sleep quality. The goals of this study are to examine the mechanisms by which improving sleep regularity through behavioral sleep intervention affects glycemic control and CVD risks in T1D adults. The investigators propose to extend our previous research by conducting a mechanistic study using a sleep stability manipulation. The investigators hypothesize that sleep stability impacts glycemic control and CV outcomes by improving circadian regulation. The investigators will conduct a 4-week behavioral sleep stability intervention in 100 T1D adults with irregular sleep, utilizing a sleep pre/post design. Circadian regulation will be assessed by dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO), melatonin metabolite amplitude (overnight urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels), actigraphy-derived rest-activity rhythm, endothelial cell CLOCK gene mRNA expression, and known zeitgebers of the central and peripheral circadian clocks (light exposure, meal timing). Main glycemic outcomes will be assessed by CGM, A1C, and assessment of insulin sensitivity. Main CV outcomes will include 24h blood pressure and endothelial FMD and other secondary vascular measures (pulse wave velocity, carotid intima media thickness, and echocardiographic parameters). Sleep will be objectively recorded. All parameters will be measured at baseline and end of intervention. This proposal will advance the understanding of mechanisms by which improving sleep regularity influences glycemic control and cardiovascular risk in T1D.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pamela Martyn-Nemeth, PhD; Phone Number: 312-996-7903; Email: pmartyn@uic.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Sirimon Reutrakul, MD; Phone Number: 312-996-6060; Email: sreutrak@uic.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • Recruiting
      • University of Illinois Chicago
      • Contact: Pamela Martyn-Nemeth, PhD; Phone Number: 312-996-7903; Email: pmartyn@uic.edu
      • Contact: Sirimon Reutrakul, MD; Phone Number: 312-413-3631; Email: sreutrak@uic.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Pamela Martyn-Nemeth, PhD
      • Principal Investigator: Sirimon Reutrakul, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults 18-50 years with a clinical diagnosis of T1D for at least one year
• Report habitual sleep irregularity ≥1 hour/week
• Desire to improve sleep, and own a smartphone (Android or iPhone)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Self-reported A1C within the past 6 months ≥10%
• insomnia symptoms defined as Insomnia Severity Index score ≥15
• history of restless leg syndrome
• history of severe hypoglycemia (defined as hypoglycemic episode that results in loss of consciousness, seizure, or requiring emergency room visit or hospitalization) within the past 6 months
• rotating shift or night work or routinely sleeping after 3 AM.
• use of sleep medications/aids, significant medical comorbidities (such as heart failure, cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring oxygen, active treatment for cancer, on renal replacement therapy [dialysis])
• depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 8 [PHQ-8] score ≥15)
• history of stroke with neurological deficits
• pregnant, breast feeding, or planning pregnancy, as sleep and glucose are known to change during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Allergy to lidocaine Participants who passed the first screen by phone will be scheduled for a consenting visit at UIC

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Other: Single arm; Sleep stability intervention

Behavioral: Sleep stability intervention; The sleep stability intervention will consist of three theory-based intervention components our team has developed and used in prior interventions: 1) self-monitoring using a wearable sleep tracker (Fitbit). This is well-liked by participants and increases awareness of their sleep goals. 2) Accountability coaching via weekly check-ins and daily monitoring of participants' wearable sleep tracking data and a coaching protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Glycemic status	Continuous glucose monitor (CGM)	From enrollment to week 12
Insulin sensitivity	Insulin sensitivity	From enrollment to week 12
Glycemic control	Hemoglobin A1C	From enrollment to week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Circadian regulation DLMO	dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO)	enrollment to week 12
Circadian regulation Melatonin	Melatonin metabolite amplitude	Enrollment to week 12
Circadian regulation actigraphy	actigraphy-derived rest activity rhythm	enrollment to week 12
Circadian regulation CLOCK gene	endothelial cell CLOCK gene mRNA expression	enrollment to week 12
Circadian regulation light	light exposure	enrollment to week 12
Circadian regulation meals	Meal timing	enrollment to week 12
Cardiovascular outcome blood pressure	24 hour blood pressure	enrollment to week 12
Cardiovascular outcome endothelial function	endothelial flow-mediated dilation	enrollment to week 12
Cardiovascular outcome arterial stiffness	pulse wave velocity	enrollment to week 12
Cardiovascular outcome echocardiogram	echocardiogram	enrollment to week 12
Cardiovascular outcome CIMT	carotid intima lining thickness (CIMT)	enrollment to week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 13, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 27, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 2, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: sleep; cardiovascular disease risk; glycemic control
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-0886; R01HL174738 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: The plans for data sharing are currently under review.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No