New research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Milan suggests that extremely steady blood sugar may not always align with better well-being. Analyzing continuous glucose monitoring data and daily questionnaires from 400 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, researchers found that more time in the normal glucose range on one day was followed by higher quality of life the next day. But unexpectedly, greater glucose variability on the previous day was also associated with improved next-day well-being.
The data came from the PRO-MENTAL study, funded by the German Center for Diabetes Research. Participants used ecological momentary assessment for 14 days, rating mood, energy, sleep, stress, and quality of life. The team, led by Dominic Ehrmann of FIDAM in Bad Mergentheim, Germany, accounted for age, sex, diabetes type, and prior-day quality of life. Time above or below the safe range did not significantly predict next-day quality of life, and same-day glucose measures showed no association.
The authors caution that the findings do not mean poor glucose control is beneficial. Rather, they suggest that people who work extremely hard to eliminate normal fluctuations may impose restrictions that make everyday activities less enjoyable or harder to pursue safely. The results underscore the importance of optimal blood sugar control for well-being, but also hint that the burden of overly strict management may come at a hidden cost.