Investigate the relationship between chronotypical features and glycemic control, sleep quality, emotional eating behavior and emotional problems in children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotypical features and glycemic control, sleep quality, emotional eating behavior and emotional problems in children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), one of the most common chronic diseases of the pediatric age group, and to compare the obtained data with the healthy control group. Fifty pediatric patients aged 9-18 years with a diagnosis of T1DM and 46 age and gender-matched healthy volunteers participated in this study. Psychological symptoms of individuals; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale; eating behaviors, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire for children and adolescent; sleep habits, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; chronotypic features, Children's Chronotype Questionnaire; functionality levels, Children's Global Assessment Scale; cognitive levels were evaluated with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-4. 25 girls and 25 boys included in the T1DM group and 24 girls and 22 boys included in the control group. Compared to the control group of children with T1DM; It was determined that the duration of screen exposure, peer problems, generalized anxiety scores were higher, verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning transformed intelligence scores and functionality were lower. A significant correlation was found between chronotype and sleep quality, cognitively restrictive eating behavior, total transformed intelligence score, and verbal comprehension and working memory transformed scores in the T1DM group. No significant correlation was found between chronotype and emotional eating behavior, emotional problems in both groups, and HbA1c in T1DM group. Our study is unique in that it compares patients with T1DM and a healthy control group according to their chronotypic characteristics. However, in order to better understand this relationship, it is recommended to conduct studies using large samples and objective methods. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus, chronotype, sleep, eating behavior, metabolic control