Effects of Sleep-Extend on glucose metabolism in women with a history of gestational diabetes: a pilot randomized trial

• Published in: Pilot and feasibility studies Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Authors: Reutrakul, Sirimon, Martyn-Nemeth, Pamela, Quinn, Lauretta, Rydzon, Brett, Priyadarshini, Medha, Danielson, Kirstie K, Baron, Kelly G, Duffecy, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04-06-2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Anxiety; Clinical trials; Dextrose; Diabetes in pregnancy; Exercise; Gestational diabetes; Glucose; Glucose metabolism; Glucose tolerance tests; Health care; Hemoglobin; Insulin resistance; Intervention; Metabolism; Physiological aspects; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Short sleep; Sleep; Sleep duration; Sleep extension; Womens health; Short sleep; Sleep extension; Gestational diabetes; Glucose; Sleep duration
• ISSN: 2055-5784; 2055-5784
• DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01076-2

Women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) are at 7-fold increase in the risk of developing diabetes. Insufficient sleep has also been shown to increase diabetes risk. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a sleep extension in women with a history of GDM and short sleep, and effects on glucose metabolism.
Women age 18-45 years with a history of GDM and actigraphy confirmed short sleep duration (<7 h/night) on weekdays were randomized at a ratio of 1 control (heathy living information) to 2 cases (6 weeks of "Sleep-Extend" intervention: use of a Fitbit, weekly digital content, and weekly coaching to increase sleep duration). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), 7-day actigraphy recording, and questionnaires were obtained at baseline and 6 weeks. Mean differences between baseline and end-of-intervention parameters were compared using independent samples t-tests.
Mean (SD) sleep duration increased within the Sleep-Extend group (n=9, +26.9 (42.5) min) but decreased within the controls (n=5, - 9.1 (20.4) min), a mean difference (MD) of 35.9 min (95% confidence interval (CI) - 8.6, 80.5). Fasting glucose increased, but less in Sleep-Extend vs. control groups (1.6 (9.4) vs 10.4 (8.2) mg/dL, MD - 8.8 mg/dL (95% CI - 19.8, 2.1), while 2-h glucose levels after an OGTT did not differ. Compared to controls, Sleep-Extend had decreased fatigue score (MD - 10.6, 95%CI - 20.7, - 0.6), and increased self-report physical activity (MD 5036 MET- minutes/week, 95%CI 343, 9729. Fitbit compliance and satisfaction in Sleep-Extend group was high.
Sleep extension is feasible in women with a history of GDM, with benefits in fatigue and physical activity, and possibly glucose metabolism. These data support a larger study exploring benefits of sleep extension on glucose metabolism in these high-risk women.
ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03638102 (8/20/2018).