Do "sugar Swings" Impact the Brain Function and the Eating Behaviors of People with Type 1 Diabetes

Plain-language summary

In type 1 diabetes, it is common to choose the food we eat according to the blood sugar level and the insulin dose and vice versa. Beyond the nutritional aspects, the relationship to food and the resulting eating behaviors can be a source of suffering. Also, it has been reported that one out of two people over 60 years of age living with type 1 diabetes has cognitive impairment. Changes in cognitive functions can have important implications for daily well-being, diet (e.g., the ability to modulate cravings), and treatment decisions to manage diabetes. One factor that can affect both eating behaviors and cognitive function is variation in blood glucose levels. This research aims to better understand the impact of glycemic variability in disordered eating behaviors and cognitive impairment, and its consequences on self-management skills in people with type 1 diabetes. The hypotheses are that i) higher glycemic variability is associated with higher disordered eating behaviors and poorer cognitive function in people with type 1 diabetes, and that differences exist between sexes, ii) higher disordered eating behaviors and poorer cognitive function are associated with lower self-management skills; and iii) cognitive impairment, interoception awareness and insulin resistance may mediate the relationship between glycemic variability and disordered eating behaviors. This research study will contribute to highlighting the consequences of blood sugar fluctuations, "sugar swings", in daily life, in particular the way they disrupt eating behaviors and brain function. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved could eventually allow for early detection and management of these problems. Our study will also seek to understand the patients' point of view, which will allow the design of appropriate and meaningful recommendations.

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