Insomnia and Insulin Resistance

NCT ID: NCT07333586

Last Updated: 2026-01-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-02-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-02-01

Brief Summary

Insomnia symptoms are linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), which includes abnormal glucose metabolism, insulin resistance (IR), and incidence of diabetes. Chronic sleep deficit is a major predictor of disease and early mortality. Further, insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the United States. The recommended first line of treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I is a multidimensional treatment that targets the thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate insomnia symptoms over time. This study will explore CBT-I effects on MetS outcomes (ie. blood pressure, triglycerides, etc.) and provide preliminary evidence that CBT-I impacts IR and fasting glucose concentrations within this population.

20 subjects with insomnia will be recruited. They will be randomly assigned to either CBT-i or sleep hygiene. The intervention is 5 wks. Pre and post intervention, the investigator will have participants fill out a number of questionnaires, a daily sleep diary, 2 weeks of actigraphy measuring sleep and physical activity and there will be a single blood draw at the beginning and the end of the study.

Detailed Description

Insomnia symptoms are linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), which includes abnormal glucose metabolism, insulin resistance (IR), and incidence of diabetes. In young healthy individuals, shortened sleep duration results in IR and elevated free fatty acid concentrations and has been associated with circadian misalignment. Additionally, individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) frequently have insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality, and greater sleep disturbances are associated with poorer glycemic control. Thus chronic sleep deficit is a major predictor of disease and early mortality. Further, insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the United States, impacting at least 10% of the general population and ~40% of those with T2D. Although stress or changes in lifestyle habits often cause short-term insomnia, chronic insomnia (Insomnia Disorder) is defined as difficulty falling or staying asleep that causes daytime impairment 3 or more nights a week, lasts 3 or more months, and cannot be fully explained by another health problem.

The recommended first line of treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I is a multidimensional treatment that targets the thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate insomnia symptoms over time. The cognitive components of the therapy empower patients to challenge their automatic thoughts and reactions to poor sleep, and the behavioral components focus on matching time in bed to sleep ability in order to increase homeostatic sleep drive (or natural propensity for sleep). CBT-I improves insomnia in many populations (e.g., among those with psychological and physical comorbidities, chronic pain, etc). CBT-I has also demonstrated efficacy in reducing insomnia symptoms among those with IR in two pilot studies, but no studies have been powered to test CBT-I effects on metabolic outcomes within this population.

Obesity is a leading risk factor for impaired metabolic health. Given the impact of insomnia symptoms on MetS, effective treatment of insomnia may improve metabolic outcomes among those with obesity. This study aims to:

1. Demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed CBT-I protocol. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that ≥85% of participants will complete all assigned treatment sessions and follow-ups.

2. Replicate previous findings that CBT-I reduces insomnia among obese adults with insomnia.

3. Explore CBT-I effects on MetS outcomes (ie. blood pressure, triglycerides, etc.).

4. Provide preliminary evidence that CBT-I impacts IR and fasting glucose concentrations within this population.

20 subjects with insomnia will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to either CBT-i or sleep hygiene. The intervention is 5 wks. Pre and post intervention, the investigators will have participants fill out a number of questionnaires, a daily sleep diary, 2 weeks of actigraphy measuring sleep and physical activity and there will be a single blood draw at the beginning and the end of the study.

Conditions

Insomnia; Insulin Resistance

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

CBT-1

treatment with cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia this is behaviorial therapy that meets with a "coach" once a week for 5 wk

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

CBT-I

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

meets with "coach" who is teaching the participant how to deal with insomnia meets 5 times/once a week with the coach

sleep hygiene

treatment with sleep hygiene group meets with a coach once at the beginning of the intervention period

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

sleep hygiene

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

meets with coach 1 time and is teaching the participant how to improve their sleep

Interventions

CBT-I

meets with "coach" who is teaching the participant how to deal with insomnia meets 5 times/once a week with the coach

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

sleep hygiene

meets with coach 1 time and is teaching the participant how to improve their sleep

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

ages 18-50 y BMI 28-45 kg/m2 Score on the Insomnia Severity Index ≥15.

Exclusion Criteria

contraindications for CBT-I (mania or seizure disorder) symptoms requiring immediate attention (e.g., psychosis, suicide intent) report illicit substance use on a monthly basis (e.g., cocaine, opioids) receiving behavioral treatment for insomnia overt cardiovascular disease overt renal disease thyroid disease cancer pregnant dieting using GLP-1 agonists taking exogenous insulin

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Missouri-Columbia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jill Kanaley

professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Matt McDonald, MS

Role: CONTACT

mjmdr4@missouri.edu

5737722519

Jill Kanaley, PhD

Role: CONTACT

kanaleyj@missouri.edu

5737722519

Other Identifiers

insomnia

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id