# Personalizing Sleep Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Community Dwelling Adults with Pre-Diabetes

> **NIH NIH R00** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $243,783

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Diet and exercise interventions have made great strides in preventing and delaying T2D onset: benefits that
surpass pharmacological interventions in some persons. Yet, variable responses from less intense, more
affordable interventions and waning benefits over time are significant limitations. Identifying additional
modifiable factors that can expand intervention options, beyond diet and exercise, are needed to reach
heretofore resistant groups and to sustain metabolic benefits. One viable option is improving sleep. Multiple
dimensions of sleep have been independently associated with T2D risk and poor glucose control in persons
with T2D. Improved insulin sensitivity has been reported in a small community based daily sleep extension
study (N= 16), as well as in a 2-day lab based sleep extension study using a personalized “catch up” sleep
intervention in healthy adults (N = 19,). Limited by small sample sizes, controlled lab conditions, and the
exclusion of persons at greatest risk for T2D, the role of sleep in mitigating T2D risk remains uncertain. An
important but unanswered question for tailoring sleep interventions is whether regular sleep timing should be
prioritized. Given that irregular sleep-wake timing is widely prevalent, identifying the metabolic benefits or
burdens of this sleep habit is critical. The proposed project in this K99/R00 award is a step toward
independence in a program of research bridging circadian rhythms and metabolism to chrono-therapeutic
interventions that mitigate type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk.
Research: The study proposed in the K99 phase will leverage an existing data set to quantify the effects of
irregular sleep timing on glucose regulation in persons with diabetes, prediabetes, and normoglycemia. This
will elucidate individual differences in resiliency against or vulnerability to irregular sleep timing. Primary
outcome measures will be hemoglobin A1c (for persons with diabetes and prediabetes) or insulin resistance
(for persons with normoglycemia). The study proposed during the R00 phase will test the effects of a daily
sleep extension intervention versus habitual sleep patterns on the percentage of time glucose is  140 mg/dL
(n = 75 per group) in sleep restricted community-dwelling adults with pre-diabetes. Wearable sensor
technologies (continuous glucose monitoring and accelerometry) will be used. This study will inform person-
specific sleep interventions that improve glycemic responses, thus providing treatment for the prediabetic state.
Training: To achieve overall career goals, the training plan will build upon the candidate's background in
diabetes by affording her in-depth training in designing sleep interventions, wearable sensor technologies
(specifically continuous glucose monitoring), and the analysis of large amounts of real time data. This training
will also incorporate advancing her skills in writing and presenting scientific findings, as well as the skills to
become a leader in the ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132405
- **Project number:** 5R00NR017416-04
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan Kohl Malone
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $243,783
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-21 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132405

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132405, Personalizing Sleep Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Community Dwelling Adults with Pre-Diabetes (5R00NR017416-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132405. Licensed CC0.

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