# Impact of Sleep Extension on Insulin Sensitivity and Dietary Intake in Adolescents

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $150,257

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Today’s adolescents habitually obtain well below the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Insufficient
sleep is associated with increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and dietary changes and may be
contributing to the recent sharp increases in pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Sleep is therefore a
potential novel target for obesity and T2D prevention. However, it is yet unclear whether interventions to
extend sleep duration can improve insulin sensitivity and circadian timing of dietary intake, and we lack
understanding of sleep health perceptions of adolescents with obesity and T2D. With this career development
award, I propose to examine the effect of increased sleep duration on insulin sensitivity and dietary intake in
typically short-sleeping adolescents and qualitatively assess sleep perceptions in youth with obesity and T2D.
Candidate and Mentors: I am an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado and
Children’s Hospital Colorado where I am a clinical sleep psychologist focused on research to prevent diabetes
and diabetes complications. I completed a research fellowship focused on the effect of sleep restriction on
dietary intake, and obtained pilot funding to examine sleep and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with obesity. I
have built strong relationships with my mentorship team, which includes co-mentors Dr. Kristen Nadeau
(pediatric endocrinology, obesity and diabetes), and Dr. Kenneth Wright (adult sleep health), who will oversee
the proposed training and research.
Research and Training: I propose short-term scientific, educational, and training goals that can be ideally met
with a mentored research award. I will build upon my prior research with three research aims: examine the
effect of extending sleep on 1) insulin sensitivity/secretion and 2) circadian timing of dietary intake among
adolescents with habitually insufficient sleep, and 3) identify key perceptions, barriers, and facilitators to
obtaining sufficient sleep in adolescents with obesity and T2D, to inform the refinement of a sleep extension
manipulation in this at-risk population. Complementary training aims include: 1) IVGTT performance and
modelling; 2) circadian rhythms; 3) advanced energy intake/expenditure assessment; and 4) qualitative
methodology. At award completion, I will have the skills to be a successful independent investigator and will
pursue funding to tailor a sleep intervention across the spectrum of metabolic disease aimed at understanding
mechanisms in the relationship between sleep, circadian rhythms, and T2D in adolescents.
Summary: Sleep is a novel target in the prevention and treatment of obesity and T2D in adolescents. My
overall career goal is to develop interventions to improve sleep health in adolescents with a specific goal of
preventing progression of sleep-related endocrine and metabolic dysfunction as known precursors to obesity
and T2D. Completion of this career development awar...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242731
- **Project number:** 5K23DK117021-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Stacey Lynn Simon
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $150,257
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-17 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242731

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242731, Impact of Sleep Extension on Insulin Sensitivity and Dietary Intake in Adolescents (5K23DK117021-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242731. Licensed CC0.

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