# Sleep stability, weight, and glycemic control

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $324,000

## Abstract

Lifestyle changes are at the heart of diabetes prevention and management. In addition to diet and physical
activity, sleep has emerged as an important behavior associated with glucose control. Recent studies further
show that timing of these behaviors may be as important as their quality and quantity. For example, timing of
sleep, independent of sleep duration, has been associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, particularly
glucose concentrations. In support of our study goals, we have shown that reducing variability in bedtimes
improves body composition, measured by magnetic resonance imaging, compared to maintaining or increasing
bedtime variability in women. While prior sleep research has focused on elucidating adverse health effects of
too little sleep or poor sleep quality, we propose an innovative project in which we will test whether improvements
in sleep behaviors, namely bedtime stability, ameliorates glycemia. Our main goal is to conduct a pilot clinical
intervention study that will test whether reducing bedtime variability improves weight and glycemic control in
patients with pre-diabetes. We will recruit men and post-menopausal women, age ³50 y, who have variable
bedtimes (VS; standard deviation of bedtimes, measured over 14 d, >60 min). Participants will be randomized
to maintain their habitual sleep patterns (VS) or reduce bedtime variability by following a fixed sleep schedule
(FS) for 12 wk. Sleep will be monitored nightly using wrist actigraphy. In Aim 1, body adipose tissue distribution
will be measured by magnetic resonance imaging (primary outcomes=total, subcutaneous, and visceral adipose
tissue) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (secondary outcome=liver fat). In Aim 2, we will assess glucose
tolerance and insulin sensitivity via an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at baseline and endpoint (primary
outcome=glucose area under the curve; secondary outcomes=disposition index). Fasting plasma samples at
baseline and endpoint will determine long-term glycemia (secondary outcomes=fructosamine and hemoglobin
A1c). Finally, in Aim 3, we will assess variability in glucose concentrations, an independent risk factor for
diabetes complications, using continuous glucose monitoring system for 14 d prior to study onset and in the last
2 wk of the intervention (primary outcomes=mean amplitude of glycemic excursion and standard deviation of
mean glucose; secondary outcome=24-h average glucose concentrations). Diet and physical activity measures
will be obtained throughout the intervention. This project has the potential to lead to larger-scale research study
to provide more definitive information on the impact of maintaining stable bedtimes as a means to improve the
health of adults at risk of type 2 diabetes and improve glycemic control in those living with this disease. This
proposal addresses a highly novel and important research question and the

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10363984
- **Project number:** 1R01DK128154-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** BLANDINE B LAFERRERE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $324,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-24 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10363984

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10363984, Sleep stability, weight, and glycemic control (1R01DK128154-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10363984. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*