Sleep troubles are surprisingly common in older adults with type 1 diabetes

A new cross-sectional study published in Diabetes Care reveals that sleep disturbances are remarkably prevalent among older adults living with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Drawing on data from nearly 1,000 participants in the ongoing EDIC study — with an average age of 64 and over 40 years of diabetes duration — researchers found that nearly two-thirds were at intermediate or high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and over 40% reported poor sleep quality.

Higher glycemic exposure was a significant culprit: every 1% rise in current HbA1c was linked to 30% higher odds of elevated OSA risk. Diabetes complications, including cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, neuropathic pain, and kidney disease, were also independently tied to worse sleep outcomes.

By the Numbers:

• 63.6% of participants had increased OSA risk
• 42.3% reported poor sleep quality
• 10.2% experienced excessive daytime sleepiness
• Each 1% rise in current HbA1c → 30% higher odds of intermediate/high OSA risk
• Each 1% absolute increase in HbA1c → 15–20% higher odds of any sleep-related problem

Why it matters: Sleep problems in T1D are often overlooked, yet they can worsen glycemic control and overall health. These findings highlight the need for routine sleep screening in older T1D patients and underscore how tightly diabetes management and sleep health are intertwined.