New research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan (Sept 28 – Oct 2) — from Prof. Dominic Ehrmann, Research Institute Diabetes Academy Mergentheim, Germany, and colleagues.
Goal of the study:
To understand how day-to-day blood sugar patterns affect quality of life in people with diabetes. The PRO-MENTAL study, funded by the German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), looked at whether CGM data from one day predicts quality of life the next day.
How it was done:
- 400 people with diabetes: 72% type 1, 28% type 2, 55% female, average age 47, average HbA1c 7.6%
- 14 consecutive days of monitoring
- Quality of life was rated daily using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) based on the WHO-5 questionnaire, which asks about feeling cheerful, calm, active, rested, and interested in daily life. Sleep quality, perceived stress, mood and energy (0-10 scale) were also recorded daily.
- CGM parameters analyzed: time below range (<70 mg/dL), time above range (>180 mg/dL), time in normal range (70-140 mg/dL), and glucose variability.
- Models adjusted for age, sex, diabetes type, and previous-day quality of life.
Key findings:
- More time in the normal range (70-140 mg/dL) on one day was associated with better quality of life the next day.
- Higher glucose variability — while still within safe limits — on one day was also associated with better quality of life the next day.
- Time above range and time below range showed no significant link to next-day quality of life.
- Better sleep quality the previous night and higher energy levels the previous day were also linked to better next-day quality of life.
- Same-day glucose parameters were not associated with same-day quality of life.
Authors’ interpretation:
The researchers suggest that while good blood sugar control is important for well-being, trying to minimise fluctuations too strictly — even when staying within safe limits — may carry a burden that reduces enjoyment. The constant effort and restriction needed to keep glucose completely flat could prevent people from engaging in activities they enjoy.
The study does not suggest that looser control is better, but that the psychological and practical burden of very strict control may affect day-to-day quality of life.
This is conference research that has not yet been through full peer-reviewed publication, so findings should be considered preliminary.