Sleep apnea and blood sugar control in adults with type 1 diabetes
Official title: Obstructive sleep apnea and glycemic dysregulation in adults with type 1 diabetes
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11189745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether treating sleep apnea can improve blood sugar control for adults with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $688,800 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174685-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11189745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 1 diabetes who have obstructive sleep apnea and who use an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without obstructive sleep apnea, children or adolescents, and adults who do not use an insulin pump or CGM are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would take part in two separate 14-day periods, one with your obstructive sleep apnea left untreated and one with sleep apnea treated using CPAP, with the order randomized and a four-week break in between. Each period includes continuous glucose monitoring while you remain on your insulin pump, and overnight CPAP will be supervised in the lab to ensure proper treatment. Researchers will collect blood measures including counterregulatory hormones and lipids to see how sleep apnea affects glucose regulation. About 40 adults with type 1 diabetes and OSA will complete the crossover protocol so each person serves as their own comparison.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show that treating sleep apnea helps improve glucose control and lower cardiovascular risk for adults with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked OSA to worse glucose control and CPAP results have been mixed, but randomized within-subject crossover intervention trials in adults with type 1 diabetes using CGM and pumps are relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tasali, Esra — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Tasali, Esra
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Obstructive sleep apnea and blood sugar control in adults with type 1 diabetes
This study tests whether treating sleep apnea improves blood sugar control in adults with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.